,\ 


MONOGRAPH 


FRESHWATER  UNIVALVE  MOLLTJSCA 


UNITED    STATES, 


INCLUDING  NOTICES  OF  SPECIES  IN  OTHER  PARTS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


BY  S.  S.  HALDEMAN, 

Professor  of  Zoology  in  the  Franklin  Institute,  and  Vice-President  of  the  Entomological  Society  of 

Pennsylvania;  Member  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia ;  of  the 

Boston  Society  of  Natural  History  ;  of  the  Association  of  American 

Geologists  and  Naturalists ;  and  of  the  Societe" 

Cuvierienne  of  Paris,  etc. 


PHYSAD^E. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

E.  G.  DORSEY,  PRINTER,  LIBRARY  STREET. 
1842. 


MONOGRAPH 


FRESHWATER  UNIVALVE  MOLLUSCA 


UNITED    STATES, 


INCLUDING  NOTICES  OF  SPECIES  IN  OTHER  PARTS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


BY  S.  S.  HALDEMAN, 

Professor  of  Zoology  in  the  Franklin  Institute,  and  Vice-President  of  the  Entomological  Society  of 

Pennsylvania;  Member  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia ;  of  the 

Boston  Society  of  Natural  History  ;  of  the  Association  of  American 

Geologists  and  Naturalists ;  and  of  the  Societe" 

Cuvierienne  of  Paris,  etc. 


PHYSAD^E. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

E.  G.  DORSEY,  PRINTER,  LIBRARY  STREET. 
1842. 


BIOLOGY 

•  IBRARY 

G 


Tant  que  Ton  n'a  etudie  et  recueilli  que  les  seules  Coquilles,  les  Testaces 
terrestres  et  fluviatiles  ont  ete  negliges,  parce  qu'ils  offrent  moins  de  varie- 
tes  dans  les  formes  et  moins  d'eclat  dans  les  couleurs  de  leurs  enveloppes 
pierreuses,  que  ceux  qui  habitent  les  eaux  de  la  mer.  Mais  lorsque  voulant 
prendre  de  ces  etres  singuliers  une  connaissance  un  peu  plus  approfondie 
et  plus  philosophique,  on  s'est  mis  a  examiner  les  animaux  eux-memes,  les 
especes  de  terre  et  d'eau  douce  sont  redevenues  un  objet  principal  d'atten- 
tion,  parce  qu'il  est  plus  facile  de  se  les  procurer  avec  leur  animal  vivant. 

Cuv.  re 


It  will  enlarge  their  views  beyond  the  feverish  expectancy  of  a  precocious 
and  questionable  celebrity,  so  easily  and  unworthily  attainable,  by  the  esta- 
blishment of  insulated  remarkable  genera;  for  it  is  only  by  taking  up  groups, 
and  thoroughly  discussing  them,  that  the  progress  of  the  science  can  be  at 

all  promoted. 

W.  E.  Shuckard,  Cab.  Cyc.  Insects,  p.  162. 

The  genus  Limneus  is  at  present  ill  understood;  many  of  the  species  being 
ill  defined,  and  no  two  authors,  except  mere  copyists,  agreeing  which  are 
veritable  species  and  which  varieties;  in  fine,  it  may  be  truly  designated 
"  rudis  indigestaque  moles."  To  disentangle  the  species,  and  rectify  the 
errors  of  authors,  would,  I  fear,  in  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge, 
require  greater  talents  and  perseverance  than  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  generality 
of  mankind.  Neither  the  influence  of  external  circumstances,  nor  the 
great  differences  observable  in  the  various  periods  of  grow:th,  appear  to 
have  been  hitherto  sufficiently  investigated;  and  a  correct  monograph  of 
this  genus  would  not  only  require  the  lyncean  eye  of  a  Jenyns,  but  the 
searching  skill  of  a  host  of  less  accomplished  auxiliaries. 

Kenyan,  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vii.  p.  379,  anno  1834. 


TO  THOSE  WHO  LABOR 

FOR  THE 

ADVANCEMENT  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  BRANCHES 

OF 

NORTH  AMERICAN  ZOOLOGY, 

THIS  CONTRIBUTION  TO  THE  SCIENCE 

IN  WHICH  WE  ARE  ALL  MUTUALLY  INTERESTED, 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED, 

BY  THEIR  FELLOW  LABORER, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


369569 


PREFACE. 


This  series  of  monographs  was  undertaken, 
not  only  to  give  an  account  of  the  species,  but 
also  of  the  varieties,  and,  as  far  as  the  material 
at  hand  would  permit,  to  indicate  the  extent 
of  variation  and  its  possible  limit,  if  there  is 
such  a  limit  in  nature.  We  do  not,  in  fact, 
know  a  species  properly  until  we  are  acquainted 
with  the  different  appearances  it  assumes,  and 
the  approaches  it  makes  to  other  species. 
Some  species  require  years  of  study  from  ex- 
tensive series,  with  an  examination  of  the 
entire  animal,  and  observation  of  their  habits 
in  their  native  localities ;  but  under  the  most 
favorable  circumstances  doubtful  points  will 
remain,  because  many  species  are  less  distinct 
in  nature  than  they  are  represented  to  be  in 
books. 

In  the  plates,  the  longitudinal  lines  made 


6  PREFACE. 

to  the  conchologists  of  the  country  for  aiding 
him  in  various  ways,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  Mrs.  Say,  Messrs.  Adams,  Anthony, 
Binney,  Blanding,  Conrad,  Couper,  Emerson, 
Gould,  Lea,  LeConte,  Lewis,  Mighels,  Nuttall, 
Phillips,  Poulson,  Wagner,  Wood,  and  Whit- 
temore. 


PHYSAD.E. 

Gasteropodous  monoicous  inoperculate 
pneumobranchiate  testaceous  aquatic  mollusca; 
having  a  single  pair  of  triangular  or  filiform 
contractile  tentacles,  the  surface  of  which  is 
covered  with  vibrillse,*  and  having  the  eyes  at 
their  internal  base:  the  shells  are  thin  in  tex- 
ture, of  uniform  tints,  and  with  the  margin  of 
the  aperture  sharp. 

The  family  LIMNEANA  of  Lamarck,  belongs 
to  Cuvier's  Pulmonifera  aquatica,  of  his  order 
Pulmonifera,  and  class  Gasteropoda;  to  Blain- 
ville's  family  Limnacea,  of  his  order  Pulmono- 
branchiata,  and  sub-class  Paracephalophora 

*  CILIA  of  authors,  which  term,  however,  was  preapplied, 
and  is  still  used,  for  hairs  or  bristles  of  a  certain  character. 
Thus  the  mouth  of  an  animalcule,  and  the  legs  of  an 
acarus,  are  both  said  to  be  ciliated.  My  friend  Professor 
Bailey,  an  acute  microscopist,  approves  of  the  term  I  have 
proposed  for  these  vibratile  organs. 


D  PHYSAD^E. 

monoica;  and  to  Ferussac's  order  Pulmonalia 
inoperculata,  and  sub-order  Hygrophilidse.  They 
live  in  the  water,  but  most  of  the  genera  are 
obliged  to  come  to  the  surface  occasionally  as 
they  breathe  air.  From  the  lightness  of  their 
shells,  they  possess  in  an  eminent  degree  the 
power  to  move  along  in  an  inverted  position, 
with  the  foot  applied  to  the  surface  of  the  water, 
thus  affording  the  observer  an  opportunity  to 
examine  the  oral  organs  when  put  into  opera- 
tion by  the  animal.  The  foot  is  adapted  for  a 
more  rapid  locomotion  than  most  of  the  preced- 
ing families  possess.  This  is  particularly  ob- 
vious in  Physa,  which  is  the  most  active,  and, 
as  I  believe,  the  most  highly  organized  genus 
in  the  family.  The  members  of  this  family  are 
generally  confined  to  stagnant  waters,  or  those 
parts  of  small  streams  which  are  not  liable  to 
be  continually  rippled,  as  this  would  render  the 
opening  of  the  branchial  cavity  at  the  surface 
a  matter  of  some  difficulty. 

The  foot  appears  to  be  covered  with  a  secre- 
tion which  has  a  repulsion  towards  water,  as 
that  organ  will  form  a  concavity  at  the  surface, 
into  which  the  water  will  not  readily  flow;  but 
when  this  cavity  is  so  far  withdrawn  that  it 


PHYSAD^E.  7 

becomes  filled,  the  animal  generally  descends.* 
I  have  occasionally  observed  some  individuals 
to  become  detached  from  the  bottom,  and  rise 
suddenly  to  the  surface;t  but  this  generally 
happens  when  they  have  crept  down  along  some 
object,  with  a  very  full  supply  of  air.  Some  of 
the  species  have  the  power  to  ascend  and  de- 
scend, by  expanding  and  compressing  the  volume 
of  air  contained  in  the  branchial  cavity,  a 
method  more  simple  than  the  one  which  Doctor 
Buckland  has  demonstrated  to  exist  in  the 
Nautiloid  family.  I  have  thus  observed  Physa 
heterostropha  slowly  to  rise  through  the  water, 
open  its  foramen,  and  descend  again  with  an 
equally  slow  motion.^  Without  a  power  of 
this  kind,  these  animals  would  not  be  able  to 
attain  the  surface,  in  situations  where  they 
might  accidentally  be  deprived  of  aquatic  plants, 
or  other  extraneous  bodies,  to  which  they 

*  On  some  occasions,  however,  it  becomes  necessary,  in 
addition  to  the  withdrawal  of  the  foot,  to  allow  a  few  bub- 
bles of  air  to  escape,  before  a  sufficient  specific  gravity  is 
attained  to  allow  the  animal  to  sink. 

f  Loudon's  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  1830,  vol.  iii.  p.  532. 

$  It  has  the  power  also  of  ascending  and  descending  in 
water  a  few  inches  deep,  by  the  aid  of  a  glutinous  thread. 


8  PHYSAD.E. 

might  attach  themselves.  That  the  density  of 
the  internal  and  external  air  is  sometimes  dif- 
ferent in  this  family,  and  in  the  terrestrial 
Pneumobranchiata,  is  proved  by  the  slight 
clicking  sound  that  frequently  accompanies  the 
opening  of  the  branchial  foramen. 

The  head  varies  somewhat  in  shape,  but  is 
never  decidedly  proboscidiform  as  in  the  more 
highly  organized  Melaniadse.  I  have  never 
been  able  to  discover  that  the  Limneans  or 
Helices  possess  true  organs  of  vision;  but  it  is 
probable  that  they  can  distinguish  light  from 
darkness.  In  the  other  freshwater  families  de- 
scribed in  this  work,  the  power  of  vision,  or 
sensitiveness  to  the  action  of  light,  is  rendered 
evident  by  intercepting  it  with  an  opaque  ob- 
ject, when  they  instantly  retract;  and  I  have 
even  observed  the  protruded  branchial  canal  of 
Unio  radiatus  (Gmelin)  to  be  suddenly  with- 
drawn, when  subjected  to  the  same  experiment. 

I  have  ventured  to  name  this  family  from 
what  I  conceive  to  be  the  principal  genus,  after 
repeated  examinations  of  them.  It  is,  however, 
so  difficult  to  determine  the  question  of  supe- 
riority of  structure,  in  animals  whose  organiza- 
tion rests  upon  the  same  model,  that  the  result 


PHYSADJE.  9 

must,  in  general,  be  considered  as  assumed, 
rather  than  as  demonstrated.  As  linear  ten- 
tacles appear  to  constitute  the  normal  form 
among  the  mollusca,  their  triangular  form  in 
Limnea,  would  seem  to  point  out  this  genus  as 
presenting  the  most  important  distinctive  cha- 
racter; but  on  similar  grounds  we  might  place 
the  Helicinse  above  this  family,  on  account  of 
the  situation  of  their  eyes,  and  the  possession 
of  an  additional  pair  of  tentacles;  whereas,  they 
are  much  less  highly  organized  than  the  Lim- 
neans;*  and  we  might  place  Ancylus  at  the 
beginning  of  the  latter  family,  because  it  is  the 
uniting  link  between  the  hydrobranchiata  and 
pneumobranchiata. 

Malacologists   are  universally  agreed,  that 
with  the  genera  Physa,  Limnea,  and  Planorbis, 

*  In  a  cancelled  portion  of  my  manuscript,  written  under 
the  impression  that  Limnea  should  stand  at  the  head  of  the 
family,  I  remarked  that  "I  at  one  time  considered  the 
genus  Physa  to  stand  higher  than  Limnea,  judging  from 
their  habits,  and  considering  the  mantle  as  indicating  a 
more  complex  organization;  but  these  views  were  counter- 
balanced by  the  belief  that  sinistral  animals  do  not  occupy 
a  more  elevated  station  than  their  congeners,  because,  from 
the  rarity  of  reversed  genera,  they  may  be  viewed  some- 
what in  the  light  of  monstrosities." 
i  2 


10  PHYSAD.E. 

this  constitutes  a  natural  family,  the  only  dif- 
ference of  opinion  arising  upon  the  order  in 
which  they  should  be  placed.  Mr.  Swainson 
places  Planorbis  at  the  head,  because  the  shell 
represents  that  of  Nautilus;  a  consideration 
which  would  have  prevented  me  from  giving  it 
this  position;  because  an  animal  cannot  represent 
a  different  one,  however  high,  and  be  the  typical 
representative  of  its  own  family*  The  principal 
difference  of  opinion,  however,  has  been  upon 
the  question  whether  Ancylus  does  or  does  not 
belong  to  the  family.  In  one  work,  it  is  con- 
sidered a  Patella;  in  another,  a  Crepidula; 
whilst  one  party  asserts  that  it  breathes  air, 
another,  that  water  is  its  only  respiratory  me- 
dium. Amidst  this  contrariety  of  opinion,  the 
principal  modern  authors  have  placed  the  genus 
in  the  family  now  under  consideration,  but  more, 
I  suspect,  on  account  of  the  great  similarity  of 
the  soft  parts,  than  from  any  certainty  as  to 

*  Mr.  Swainson  places  Corvus  at  the  head  of  the  in- 
sessorial  birds;  and  if  the  carnivorous  genus  nearest  allied 
to  it,  is  to  be  considered  typical,  Buteo  will  stand  above 
Falco,  among  the  falconine  birds !  The  genus  Perca  stands 
as  the  representative  of  its  class,  although  there  are  many 
genera  which  are  more  nearly  allied  to  the  reptilia. 


PHYSAD.E.  1 1 

what  medium  they  breathe.  This  resemblance 
is  so  apparent,  that  it  would  be  likely  to  induce 
one  to  believe  the  genus  strictly  pneumo- 
branchiate,  without  evidence  of  a  contrary 
nature;  and  the  impossibility  of  determining  its 
position  as  a  hydrobranchiate  mollusc,  must 
have  had  its  influence  in  retaining  it  among  the 
Limneans. 

For  my  own  part,  whilst  I  had  no  right  to 
contradict  the  respectable  authority  in  favor  of 
free  air  being  the  medium  of  respiration,  my 
own  observations  convinced  me  that  our  Ancyli, 
at  least,  breathe  water.  I  found  them  attached 
to  the  lower  side  of  stones,  in  rapid  water, 
within  dead  bivalve  shells,  and  in  such  situa- 
tions generally,  which  they  could  never  have 
attained  from  the  surface.  Moreover,  I  never 
saw  them  at  the  surface  of  the  water,  even  in 
vessels  under  my  own  eye.  I  now  suspected 
that,  occupying  so  debatable  a  ground,  the 
branchiae  of  this  genus  might  be  adapted  in- 
differently to  aquatic  or  aerial  respiration,  and 
I  was  confirmed  in  this  view,  by  the  discovery 
of  a  hydrobranchiate  Physa  (see  Physa  globosa) 
in  Tennessee.* 

*  I  would  recommend  to  naturalists  to  travel  in  their 


12  PHYSAD^E. 

It  results  from  these  facts,  that  Cuvier  and 
Ferussac  were  wrong  in  naming  this  family 
Pulmonifera  and  Pulmonalia;  and  I  believe  we 
are  indebted  to  Lamarck,  for  having  been  the 
first  to  indicate  the  respiratory  organs  as  true 
branchiae  in  structure,  but  adapted  to  aerial 
respiration.* 

The  North  American  Limneans  may  be  said 
to  range  from  the  thirty-fifth  to  the  fiftieth  de- 
gree of  north  latitude;  but  some  are  found 
farther  south,  Limnea  attenuata  inhabiting  near 
the  city  of  Mexico;  and  a  species  of  Physa,  and 
one  of  Planorbis,  near  Vera  Cruz.  A  larger 
number  of  species  inhabits  New  England  than 
any  other  part  of  North  America  of  equal  extent; 
whilst  not  a  single  species  of  the  Melanians, 

own,  rather  than  in  a  public  conveyance,  as  affording  better 
facilities  for  observation.  In  the  summer  of  1841,  ac- 
companied by  an  assistant,  and  having  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  additional  weight,  I  drove  a  single  horse, 
still  in  my  possession,  the  distance  of  1800  miles  in  forty- 
five  consecutive  days,  and  often  over  mountainous  regions, 
and  the  most  execrable  roads,  frequently  breaking  shafts, 
springs,  and  other  portions  of  the  vehicle,  and  examining 
every  stream  upon  the  route. 

*  Blainville  and  Deshayes  appear  to  hold  the  same  opi- 
nion. 


PHYSAD.E.  13 

and  but  one  Paludina,  has  been  yet  observed 
there.  They  prefer  quiet  cold  waters,  species 
of  Physa  being  sometimes  found  in  springs 
having  a  temperature  nearly  as  low  as  ten  de- 
grees centigrade,  and  they  may  be  sometimes 
seen  moving  along  the  bottom,  when  the  sur- 
face is  covered  with  ice.  This  fact  tends  to 
prove  that  they  can  remain  a  long  time  beneath 
the  surface  without  requiring  a  fresh  supply  of 
air;  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  they  can 
remain  deprived  of  access  to  the  atmosphere, 
for  several  days,  weeks,  or  even  months,  when 
the  full  action  of  their  system  is  retarded  by 
cold.  I  have  observed  them  moving  about  in 
water  at  the  temperature  of  three  or  four  de- 
grees centigrade,  when  species  of  Melania  and 
Paludina  were  torpid;  the  latter,  in  fact,  are 
just  able  to  move,  in  the  most  languid  manner, 
in  a  temperature  of  eight  or  nine  degrees. 

Like  the  Helicina?,  this  family  is  hermaphro- 
dite, both  sexes  being  united  in  the  same  in- 
dividual. All  the  genera  are  oviparous,  the 
eggs  being  generally  deposited  upon  the  under 
surface  of  stories,  or  upon  sticks  and  leaves  in 
the  water,  many  being  enclosed  in  a  voluminous 
transparent  glairy  mass.  This  mass,  in  Pla- 


14  PHYSAD.E. 

norbis,  is  not  so  large  as  in  Physa  and  Limnea, 
and  has  a  firmer  texture.  I  have  known  the 
ova  to  become  matured  in  two  or  three  weeks, 
but  the  time  must  vary  with  the  species  and 
temperature. 

The  different  sub-generic  sections  in  this 
family,  are,  probably,  nearly  as  indicated  in  the 
following  table. 

PHYSA.     Shell  reversed,  mantle  lobed,  pi.  1. 
PHYSELLA,  H.   With  branchiae,  shell  globose,  pi.  5. 
APLEXA,  Fleming.  Lengthened,  mantle  simple,  pi.  5. 
PHYSODON,  H.    Columella  toothed,  pi.  5. 
DIASTROPHA.   Shell  umbilicated,  no  fold. 

LIMNEA.     Shell  lengthened,  pi.  5. 
BULIMNEA,  H.    Shell  thick  in  texture,  inflated,  pi.   3. 
ACELLA,  H.     Shell  slender,  whirls  very  oblique. 
RADIX,  Montf.     Shell  short,  greatly  expanded,  pi.  11. 
AMPHIPEPLEA,  Nilss.     Mantle  lobed.     Vide  LIM.,  p.  3. 
?  LEPTOLIMNEA,  Sw.     Nearly  cylindrical,  spire  thick. 

PLANORBIS.     Whirls  few  and  regular,  pi.  1. 
PLANORBINA,  H.     Whorls  numerous,  nearly  equal. 
PLANORBELLA,  H.     Aperture  campanulate,  pi.  1. 
PLANORBULA,  H.     Aperture  armed  with  teeth. 
SEGMENTINA,  Fleming.     Cavity  with  open  partitions. 

ANCYLUS.     Apex  of  the  shell  upon  the  right.* 
VELLETIA,  Gray.     Apex  of  the  shell  upon  the  left.* 

*  Some  authors  may  think  it  necessary  to  subdivide  each 


PHYS  AD.E.  1 5 

?  POTAMOPHILA,  Sw.  "Shell  resembling  a  Limnea, 
but  with  a  distinct  fold  on  the  pillar."  Mr.  Swainson  gives 
this  name  to  certain  species  which  he  removes  from  Cono- 
vulus  to  place  among  the  Limneans. 

Lamarck  has  a  hypothesis  touching  the  origin  of  this 
family,*  which  has  induced  some  individuals  to  attack  his 
character,  by  which  unphilosophic  means  his  views  were 
to  be  subverted.  These  authors  may  have  supposed  such 
ideas  to  be  unworthy  of  a  serious  refutation,  apparently 
ignorant  of  the  fact,  that  any  views  from  so  eminent  a 
source,  are  worthy  of  the  profoundest  consideration  of  less 
gifted  authors,  who  assume,  rather  than  form  their  opi- 
nions.t  Every  true  naturalist  must  thank  Mr.  Lyell,  the 
distinguished  British  geologist,  for  the  manner  in  which  he 
has  discussed  this  question,  his  essay  being  that  of  a  gen- 
tleman, confined  to  the  point  at  issue,  unencumbered  with 
considerations  which  have  no  connection  with  it,  and  pre- 

of  these  sections,  into  those  which  breathe  free  air,  and 
those  which  oxygenate  the  system  from  water.  I  am  of 
the  opinion  that  the  same  species  can  adopt  either  method, 
according  to  the  circumstances  in  which  it  may  be  placed. 

*  Animaux  sans  vertebres,  vol.  viii.  p.  378. 

t  "If  it  is  an  obligation  on  science  to  proclaim  the  in- 
tervention of  a  divine  power  in  the  development  of  the        /     s*"~ 
whole  of  nature,  and  if  it  is  to  that  power  alone  that  we     l«r 
must  ascribe  all  things,  it  is  not  the  less  incumbent  on 
science  to  ascertain  what  is  the  influence  which  physical 
forces,  left  to  themselves,  exercise  in  all  natural  pheno- 
mena, and  what  is  the  part  of  direct  action  which  we  must 
attribute  to  the  Supreme  Being,  in  the  revolutions  to  which 


16  PHYSAD^E. 

senting  a  marked  contrast  to  the  vulgar,  bilious  effusions 
of  such  characters  as  a  correspondent  of  the  Entomologi- 
cal Magazine,  who  regrets  that  he  is  obliged  even  to  cite 
Lamarck's  works  !* 

nature  has  been  subjected.  ...  It  is  now  time  for  natu- 
ralists to  occupy  themselves  likewise,  in  their  domain,  in 
inquiring  within  what  limits  we  can  recognise  the  traces 
of  a  divine  interposition,  and  within  what  limits  the  phe- 
nomena take  place  in  consequence  of  a  state  of  things  im- 
mutably established  from  the  beginning  of  creation. 

"Let  it  not  be  said  that  it  is  not  given  to  man  to  sound 
these  depths:  the  knowledge  he  has  acquired  of  so  many 
hidden  mysteries  in  past  ages,  promises  more  and  more 
extended  revelations.  It  is  an  error  to  which  the  mind, 
from  a  natural  inclination  to  indolence,  allows  itself  too 
easily  to  incline,  to  believe  impossible  what  would  take 
some  trouble  to  investigate.  We  generally  rather  prefer 
imposing  limits  to  our  faculties,  than  increasing  their  range 
by  their  exercise;  and  the  history  of  the  sciences  is  present 
to  tell  us,  that  there  are  few  of  the  great  truths  now  re- 
cognised, which  have  not  been  treated  as  chimerical  and 
blasphemous,  before  they  were  demonstrated." — rfgassiz, 
in  Jameson's  Journal,  1842. 

*  This  author's  intellect  appears  to  be  sufficiently  cob- 
webbed  to  enable  him  to  apply  vernacular  names  to  shells 
and  insects  with  great  success;  one  of  the  methods  long 
since  invented  to  rob  Linnaeus  of  the  right  of  citation  for 
his  species.  By  this  means  he  will  be  enabled  to  spare  the 
little  liberality  he  possesses,  from  the  great  overstrain  to 
which  he  is  at  present  compelled  to  submit  it.  The  use  of 


PHYSAD.E.  17 

Mr.  Charlesworth  remarks,  in  the  first  volume  of  his 
Magazine  of  Natural  History,  that  "Theory  is  often  the 
great  incentive  to  observation,  the  main  stimulus  to  exer- 
tion, and  the  more  widely  those  who  are  engaged  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  same  object  differ  amongst  themselves 
as  to  the  nature  of  their  present  conclusions,  the  greater, 
perhaps,  would  be  the  reliance  which  we  should  feel  dis- 
posed to  place  in  any  points  of  common  agreement  that  may 
hereafter  be  attained."  This  being  admitted,  I  would  like 
to  see  the  Lamarckian  hypothesis  revived  by  some  one 
capable  of  doing  it  justice.  I  furnish  in  these  pages  an 
additional  intercalation,  and  consider  that  the  Paludina 
subcarinata  might  be  viewed  in  this  connection.  In  this 
species  we  find  a  true  Paludina,  occasionally  rounding  its 
aperture,  throwing  it  off  from  the  body  whirl,  and  not  only 
assuming  the  physiognomy  of  Cyclostoma  elegans,  but 
actually  departing  so  far  from  the  normal  character  of  its 
genus,  as  to  construct  a  cyclostomoid  opercle;  that  of  the 
young  animal  enlarging  spirally.  This,  however,  does  not 
continue;  the  animal,  as  a  Paludina,  is  not  endowed  with 
the  elements  necessary  to  produce  the  entire  opercle  of  a 
Cyclostoma,  so  that  after  continuing  it  to  a  certain  point, 
the  layers  become  normal,  or  concentric,  apparently  indi- 
cating the  impossibility  of  a  departure  from  its  generic 
type,  beyond  a  certain  limit.  But  instead  of  taking  this 
view  of  the  shell  in  question,  I  regard  it  as  one  of  the 

vulgar  names  has  been  carried  so  far,  that  some  English 
authors  use  the  word  pig!  instead  of  hog  or  swine;  Pro- 
fessor Bell,  however,  has  sufficient  independence  and  re- 
spect for  the  language,  to  avoid  this  suiscidal  course, 
i  3 


18 

strongest  proofs  in  favor  of  Mr.  Swainson's  theory  of  re- 
presentation. 

There  are  still  those  who  suppose  scientific  research,  and 
religion,  to  be  incompatible  with  each  other;  and  who  will 
not  receive  a  fact  in  the  first  department,  until  it  be  ad- 
mitted upon  competent  authority  in  the  other.  Thus  the 
theory  of  the  solar  system  proposed  by  Laplace,  was  not 
well  received  until  it  was  examined  and  put  forth  anew  by 
Herschell.*  The  next  great  question  will  be  (now  that 
that  of  the  interchange  of  species  may  be  considered  as 
settled  in  the  negative)  to  account  for  the  succession  of 
animal  forms,  which  the  lithographic  pages  of  geology 
display  to  our  view:  that  is,  has  there  been  an  actual 
modern  creation,  in  the  usual  sense  of  the  term,  of  all  the 
unfossilized  recent  forms;  or  have  they  been  called  forth 
by  laws  established  by  Almighty  power  at  the  creation? 
The  latter  opinion  will  be  likely  to  prevail,  if  the  alleged 
production  of  a  species  of  Acarus  by  galvanism,  be  proved 
to  have  been  accomplished;  nor  can  I  see  anything  more 
impossible  in  the  modern  production  of  the  Sarcoptes  scabiei, 
for  example,  than  in  the  recent  development  of  a  crystal. f 

Should  this  question  be  fairly  brought  before  the  public, 
some  of  the  most  bitter  opponents  of  Lamarck,  will  pro- 
bably adopt  his  views  in  full;  as  some  of  them  have  done 

*  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  why  the  early  objections  to 
this  one,  should  not  have  been  turned  against  the  theory  of 
gravitation. 

f  The  Reverend  Wm.  Kirby  is  of  the  opinion  that  the 
pediculi  were  brought  into  existence  subsequent  to  the 
creation  of  man. 


PHYSAD.E.  19 

to  a  great  extent,  in  contending  that  external  agents  have 
produced  the  different  characters  presented  by  the  order 
Bimana. 

The  experiment  of  Cross  will  be  an  experimentum 
crucis  for  the  question  of  the  mutability  of  species,  should 
it  be  ascertained  that  the  resulting  Acarus  be  not  produced 
from  the  egg  of  a  known  species;  for  it  will  doubtless  be 
proven  that  it  is  not  developed  from  an  animalcule,  a 
zoophyte,  or  a  planarian  worm. 

The  great  family  of  the  Helicidae  requires  a  careful  study; 
because,  from  the  diversity  of  form  which  it  presents,  it 
appears  to  offer  better  means  than  any  other,  towards  the 
solution  of  several  great  physiological  questions.  The 
principle  of  the  revolution  of  the  spiral,  in  Planorbis,  which 
results  in  an  apex  upon  the  same  side  with  the  obliquity 
of  the  aperture,  in  some  species,  and  upon  the  opposite  one 
in  others,  is  to  be  discovered;  and  the  causes  of  the  pecu- 
liarities presented  by  the  Helices,  must  be  accounted  for; 
such  as  the  reversal  of  the  aperture  in  Anostoma  and 
Strophostoma,  the  possession  or  the  want  of  teeth,  and  the 
laws  which  govern  their  production.  We  are  at  present 
quite  ignorant  of  the  extent  to  which  these  characters  may 
be  considered  generic;  and  whilst  one  author  separates 
Monoceros  from  Purpura,  another  unites  them,  because  he 
cannot  detect  the  peculiarity  in  the  organization  of  the 
soft  parts,  which  would  enable  him  to  account  for  the  for- 
mation of  the  teeth,  although  the  presence  of  the  latter 
demonstrates  the  existence  of  the  former. 

Chicquesalunga,  October,  1842. 


20 


GENUS  PHYSA,  Draparnaud. 

PLATE  1.— FIGS.  1—3. 

Testa  convoluta,  ovata  vel  oblonga,  sinistrorsa:  spira 
exserta:  apertura  longitudinalis,  labrum  acutum,  labium  in 
anfractum  ultimum  expansum. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

BULINUS,  ADANSON.   Hist.  Nat.  de  Senegal,  pi.  1,  fig.  G2. 
BULLA,  LIN.    GMEL.    DILLWYN.    PLANORBIS,  MULLER. 
BULIMUS,  BRUGUIERE,  POIRET. 
PHYSA,  DRAPARNATJD.     Hist.  Nat.  des  Moll.  ter.  et  fluv. 

"       LAMARCK.     An.  sans  vert.,  vol.  viii.  p.  398. 
LIMNEA,  SOWERBY.     Genera  of  Shells. 

"       SOWERBY,  Jr.     A  Conchological  Manual. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  spiral,  subglobular  or  lengthened: 
head  short,  flat,  rounded,  and  emarginate  in 
front;  mouth  provided  with  lateral  lips,  and  a 
spoon-shaped  tongue:  foot  rounded,  and  not 
much  extended  in  front,  but  long  and  pointed 
posteriorly:  tentacles  long  and  slender,  and 
swelling  into  an  auricle  at  the  base:  eyes  at  the 


PHYSA.  21 

internal  base  of  the  tentacles:  inner  and  poste- 
rior edge  of  the  mantle  digitated.  Organ  of  the 
deferent  canal  immediately  behind  the  left  ten- 
tacle, corresponding  organ  posterior  to  it,  upon 
the  same  side,  and  near  the  pulmonary  orifice. 
SHELL  sinistral,  subglobular  or  lengthened, 
smooth,  and  polished;  with  a  pointed  exserted 
spire:  aperture  longitudinal,  with  the  labrum 
sharp,  and  not  reflected:  labium  extending  upon 
the  last  whirl. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  animal  is  distinguished  from  Limnea  by 
the  digitated  mantle,  and  setaceous  tentacles; 
and  in  having  the  foot  slender,  and  generally 
keeled,  instead  of  oval.  This  organ  is  better 
adapted  for  locomotion  than  in  any  of  the  allied 
genera;  as  the  animal  moves  about  with  great 
ease  and  rapidity;  with  a  uniform,  gliding  mo- 
tion; and  not  by  extending  the  foot  forward, 
and  drawing  up  the  body. 

The  Physse  are  generally  less  inclined  to  rest 
than  the  allied  genera;  they  spend  less  time  in 
a  state  of  repose,  and  move  about  as  usual, 
when  Limnea  and  Planorbis  are  nearly  torpid 
with  cold.  On  the  other  hand,  they  do  not 


22  PHYSA. 

appear  to  suffer  from  a  high  temperature,  as 
we  find  from  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Lea.*  When 
disturbed  by  each  other,  or  by  extraneous 
bodies,  they  whirl  the  shell  about  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  convince  the  observer  that  it  is 
a  peculiar  mode  of  defence. 

This  genus  was  first  called  Bulinus  by  Adanson,  whose 
name  has  been  retained  under  the  form  Bulimus,  by 
Bruguiere,  and  a  few  others;  but  Draparnaud's  name  pre- 
vails so  universally  at  the  present  day,  that  nothing  but 
confusion  would  result  from  a  return  to  the  first.  Besides, 
the  rule  of  priority,  which  must  be  so  rigidly  enforced 
with  specific  names,  is  adopted  with  greater  latitude,  when 
genera  or  families  are  concerned;  because  naturalists  can- 
not allow  the  science  to  be  tramelled  here,  by  bad,  inap- 
propriate, or  barbarous  names;  although  it  is  proper,  as  far 
as  practicable,  to  adopt  those  which  were  first  proposed. 
A  bad  specific  term  affects  but  one  species,  whilst  an  im- 
proper generic  or  family  name,  may  affect  hundreds. 

Adanson  will  have  ample  justice,  if  he  be  cited  for  Plan- 
orbis  coretus,  and  Physa  bulinus,  simply  because  he  re- 
jected the  Linnean  nomenclature;  preferring  one  which  he 
constructed  with  the  assistance  of  the  niggers  of  Senegal. 
An  author  who  is  not  struck  with  the  absurdity  of  call- 
ing a  genus  of  shells  apple  snail,  objects  to  such  names 
as  bobo,  used  by  Adanson;  names,  however,  which  are  not 
worse  ih&nphyse  des  mousses.'  or  horny  coil  shell! 

*  Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol.  vi.  p.  18. 


23 


PHYSA  HETEROSTROPHA,  Say. 

PLATE  1. — PL.  2,  FIGS.  1 — 9. 

P.  testa  ovata  vel  elongata,  fusca  vel  castanea:  anfrac- 
tibus  4 — 5  convexis:  sutura  conspicua. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LISTER,  Conch.,  pi.  135,  fig.  34. 

SCHROTER,  Einl.,  vol.  i.  p.  201,  Helix  no.  84.    Say. 

LYMNEA  HETEROSTROPHA,  SAY.   Nich.  Encyc.  (Am.  ed. 

Art.  Conch.)  pi.  i.  fig.  6. — Physa  heterostropha,  Say, 

Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  ii.  p.  177. 
P.  HETEROSTROPHA,  GOULD.    Invert,  of  Mass.,  fig.  141. 
PHYSA  HETEROSTROPHA,  DESK,  in  Lam.,  vol.  viii.  p.  402. 

BULL  A    FONTJNALISI      INDITE    ORIENTALIS,     CHEMNITZ. 

Conch.,  vol.  ix.  pi.  103,  fig.  879,  880. 
BULLA  CRASSULA!  DILLWYN.     Cat.,  p.  487,  no.  36. 
PHYSA  AUREA,  LEA.    Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol.  iv. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  dark  yellowish-grey,  minutely  dotted 
with  whitish-yellow:  foot,  when  extended,  longer 
than  the  shell.  When  the  shell  is  light  color- 
ed, the  animal  is  wine-yellow,  dark  yellowish- 
grey  above,  with  a  conspicuous  spot  upon  each 
side  of  the  forehead,  made  up  of  minute  dots  of 


24  PHYSA  HETEROSTROPHA. 

ochre-yellow,  which  cover  the  exposed  parts. 
The  mantle  within  the  shell  is  dark  brown,  fre- 
quently spotted  with  light  sienna,  or  golden- 
yellow,  but  in  one  variety  it  is  black.* 

SHELL  oval,  ovate,  or  elongated,  generally 
translucent,  composed  of  four  or  five  slightly 
convex  whirls:  suture  well  marked:  apex  point- 
ed: aperture  narrow,  longer  than  the  spire,  with 
the  labium  expanded  far  upon  the  body  whirl: 
columella  thickened. 

COLOR.  Various  shades,  from  light  translu- 
cent yellowish-brown,  to  opaque  chesnut;  the 
outside  and  inside  seldom  presenting  different 
shades. 

MONSTROSITIES.  The  end  of  the  right  ten- 
tacle furcated,  and  ending  in  two  distinct  points. 
— Dr.  Reinhardt.  The  posterior  extremity  of 
the  foot  divided  into  two  unequal  parts;  the  one 
on  the  left  being  the  smaller,  and  situated  late- 
rally. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  From  latitude 
31°  to  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  great  lakes; 
and  from  the  North-west  Territory  and  "Canada, 

*  The  shell  of  this  variety  cannot  be  distinguished  from 
those  containing  light  colored  animals,  either  in  shape  or 
color. 


PHYSA  HETEROSTROPHA.  25 

to  Saskatchewan."  Mr.  Nuttall  brought  speci- 
mens from  Lewis'  river,  Oregon;  Mr.  Couper 
has  found  it  on  the  Alatamaha,  in  southern 
Georgia;  and  Dr.  Mighels  in  Maine. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  species  may  be  distinguished  from  Physa 
ancillaria  by  its  greater  length,  darker  color, 
and  in  never  having  a  very  wide  aperture.  I 
have  examined  hundreds  from  the  Susquehanna, 
and  have  never  found  one  which  could  be  con- 
founded with  the  ancillaria,  as  it  occurs  in  the 
Delaware;  although  it  is  difficult  to  decide  be- 
tween those  half-grown  individuals  in  each, 
which  have  a  wide  aperture  in  heterostropha, 
and  a  narrow  one  in  ancillaria;  especially  when 
those  specimens  of  the  former  are  chosen  which 
have  a  rounded  spire,  as  figure  8,  plate  1. 

An  extensive  suite  of  purposely  selected  spe- 
cimens might  show  the  propriety  of  uniting  the 
two,  but  my  present  opinion  is  against  such  a 
step.  Some  elongated  individuals  may  be  con- 
founded with  P.  gyrina,  but  these  must  be  con- 
sidered an  accidental  variety,  as  I  never  saw 
but  two  specimens,  (figs.  6  and  7,  plate  1,) 
which  are  very  long,  and  these  I  collected  from 


26  PHYSA  HETEROSTROPHA. 

a  spring  connected  with  the  Susquehanna,  which 
river  P.  gyrina  does  not  inhabit.  The  posterior 
extremity  of  the  labrum,  is  never  suddenly  in- 
curved to  meet  the  body  whirl,  as  in  P.  gyrina. 
I  at  one  time  believed  (and  described)  the 
variety  fontana  as  distinct,  on  comparing  the 
soft  parts  with  Tieterostropha  proper,  but  I  have 
since  found  the  two  gradually  passing  into  each 
other.  The  growth  of  this  variety  is  no  doubt 
retarded  by  the  coldness  of  the  springs  it  in- 
habits; which  causes  the  death,  in  a  few  days, 
of  those  brought  from  ponds  or  streams.  I 
have  noticed  in  a  spring  upon  my  premises, 
that  the  individuals  which  live  upon  the  stones 
of  a  small  ripple,  are  about  twice  the  size  of 
those  upon  the  muddy  bottom  of  the  quiet 
water,  two  or  three  yards  off.  It  must  be  this 
variety  which  is  sometimes  cited  as  'P.  fonti- 
nalis,'  for  the  shells  of  the  two  species  resemble 
each  other  very  closely.  The  mantle,  how- 
ever, is  not  as  large,  nor  the  tentacles  as  thick 
as  in  P.  fontinalis. 

EXPLANATION  or  PLATE  1. 

Figure  1   represents  the  digitated  mantle  of  the  right 
side;  2,  the  ova;  and  3,  a  dorsal  view  of  the  animal. 


27 


PHYSA  ANCILLARIA,  Say. 

PLATE  3.— FIGS.  1—10. 

P.  testa  subglobosa,  luteo-cornea;  anfractibus  4  con- 
vexis:  sutura  inconspicua:  spira  brevi,  acuta,  vel  erosa: 
apertura  lata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PHYSA  ANCILLARIA,  SAY.  Journal  of  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  vol.  v.  p.  124. 

P.  ANCILLARIA,  GOULD.  Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  213,  fig.  142. 

PHYSA  SAYI,  TAPPAN.  Am.  Jour,  of  Science,  vol.  xxxv. 
p.  269,  pi.  3,  fig.  3. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  subglobose,  with  four  convex  narrow 
whirls,  of  which  the  last  is  much  the  largest; 
suture  nearly  obliterated;  apex  acute,  but  fre- 
quently truncate-eroded:  aperture  very  wide, 
more  than  twice  the  length  of  the  spire:  labium 
thick. 

COLOR  yellowish  or  brownish  corneous,  colu- 
mella  generally  white;  submargins  of  the  aper- 
ture frequently  reddish. 

MONSTROSITY.  The  last  whirl  with  a  square 
shoulder.  Fig.  7. 


28  PHYSA    ANCILLARIA. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"The  spire  of  this  species  is  unusually  short, 
truncated  at  tip  like  the  Paludina  decisa,  and 
the  suture  is  so  inconspicuous  as  to  give  rise  to 
the  name  which  I  have  chosen  for  it.  My 
brother,  Mr.  B.  Say,  obtained  it  in  the  Dela- 
ware river  near  Easton,  and  Mr.  Jessup  col- 
lected numerous  specimens  in  the  Connecticut 
river  above  Hartford.  It  may  be  distinguished 
from  P.  heterostropha,  by  the  shorter  and  trun- 
cated spire,  inconspicuous  suture,  as  well  as  by 
the  more  obtusely  rounded  junction  of  the  la- 
brum  with  the  base,  and  by  the  general  form." 
—Say. 

The  very  few  specimens  I  have  seen  from  the 
Connecticut  river,  (figs.  1  and  2,)  have  a  more 
solid  texture  than  those  which  inhabit  the  Dela- 
ware, (figs.  3 — 8,)  but  it  is  most  probable  that 
they  constitute  but  one  species. 

I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Anthony  for  the  speci- 
men of  "P.  Sayi,"  (fig.  9,)  and  find  it  agrees 
in  the  very  deep  fold,  and  other  characters,  with 
a  shell  (fig.  10)  from  a  branch  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill,  which  I  refer  to  P.  ancillaria. 


PHYSA  OSCULANS,  Hold. 

PLATE  2.— FIGS.  11—13. 

P.  testa  ovata  vel  subglobosa,  griseo-fusca,  tenui;  anfrac- 
tibus  5,  sutura  impressa:  apertura  lata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

BULLA  FONTINALIS!  Indias  occidentalis,  CHEMNITZ,  vol. 

ix.  pi.  103,  figs.  879,  880. 
PHYSA  OSCULANS.    This  work,  anno  1841. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  allied  to  P.  heterostropha,  and  pre- 
senting nearly  the  same  varieties:  translucent; 
texture  very  thin:  lines  of  accretion  fine:  aper- 
ture wide,  columella  thick,  with  the  fold  obso- 
lete, or  but  slightly  impressed. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Mexico?  India? 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Specimens  of  this  shell  were  presented  to  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  by  Dr.  M.  Bur- 
rough;  and  Mexico  is  given  as  the  native  coun- 
try; but  as  this  enterprising  traveller  also  made 
collections  in  India,  it  is  not  impossible  that 


30  PHYSA  CONCOLOR. 

they  may  be  from  the  latter  country.  In  either 
case,  the  species  appears  to  occur  in  too  great 
abundance  to  allow  us  to  suppose  that  it  is  now 
characterized  for  the  first  time.  Figure  13  is 
from  a  specimen  in  Dr.  Jay's  collection,  and 
may  be  a  distinct  species. 


PHYSA  CONCOLOR,  Hald. 

PLATE  2.— FIG.  10. 

Testa  ovata;  spira  producta,  apice  acuto:  anfractibus  4 
convexis. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  oval;  spire  produced,  with  the  apex 
pointed:  aperture  oval,  narrow,  with  the  colu- 
mellar  fold  distinct.  Color  honey-yellow. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Characterized  from  a  single  specimen  brought 
from  Oregon  by  Mr.  Nuttall. 


31 


PHYSA  FRAGILIS,  MigJi. 

PLATE  3.— FIGS.  11—13. 

Testa  ovata,  pallida,  tenuissima,  fragili:  apertura  lata, 
repanda. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PHYSA  FRAGILIS,  MIGHELS.    Boston  Jour,  of  Nat.  Hist., 
vol.  iv.  pi.  iv.  fig.  12. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "of  a  very  obscure,  light  green  color; 
whole  surface  of  the  body  covered  with  oblong 
dark  spots;  foot  shorter  than  the  shell,  lanceo- 
late; tentacles  nearly  white,  rather  long,  very 
slender;  mantle  blood-red." 

SHELL  obliquely  ovate,  translucent,  extremely 
fragile  and  delicate:  suture  well  marked:  aper- 
ture very  wide,  labium  not  closely  appressed, 
and  without  columellar  fold. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  Maine. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Allied  to  P.  ancillaria,  but  is  distinguished  by 
its  greater  tenuity,  wider  aperture,  the  tendency 


32  PHYSA  GYRINA. 

of  the  labium  to  grow  over  extraneous  matter, 
and  the  want  of  a  fold  in  the  columella.  "Its 
motions  are  exceedingly  rapid;  very  timid,  with- 
drawing itself  on  the  least  alarm." 


PHYSA  GYRINA,  Say. 

PLATE  3.— FIGS.  1—6. 

P.  testa  elongata,  castanea  vel  rubra:  anfractibus  5 — 6 
convexis:  sutura  impressa:  apice  acuto:  apertura  ovato- 
elongata;  plica  columellari  obsoleta. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PHYSA  GYRINA,  SAY.  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  v.  ii.  p.  171. 
P.  ELLIPTICA,  LEA.     Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.  n.  s.,  vol.  v.  p. 
115,  pi.  xix.  fig.  83. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  oblong,  polished,  and  translucent,  with 
five  or  six  convex  whirls,  and  a  well  marked 
suture:  spire  gradually  tapering  to  an  acute 
apex:  aperture  more  than  one  half  the  entire 
length,  frequently  thickened  within  the  margin: 
columellar  fold  obsolete. 


PHYSA  INTEGRA.  33 

COLOR  yellowish-brown  to  chesnut,  rarely 
hyacinth-red. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  "Inhabits  the 
waters  of  the  Missouri  .  .  .  near  Council  Bluff." 
— Say.  Mrs.  Say  has  given  me  specimens 
from  Indiana,  and  Mr.  Anthony  from  Ohio.  I 
have  seen  specimens  from  Georgia  which  ap- 
pear to  belong  to  this  species;  and  Professor 
Adams  notes  it  as  occurring  rarely  in  Vermont. 

FOREIGN  ANALOGUE.     Physa  castanea. 


PHYSA  INTEGRA,  Raid. 

PLATE  4.— FIGS.  7,  8. 

P.  test&  ovata,  pallida,  subumbilicata:  anfractibus  5  con- 
vexis,  apice  acuto:  sutura  vald£  impressa:  plica  columellari 
obsoleta. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  (DIASTROPHA)  INTEGRA,  HALD.    This  work,  March 
13th,  1841. 

DESCRIPTION. 
SHELL  oval,  with  a  lengthened,  pointed  spire: 

i  5 


34  PHYSA  SCALARIS. 

whirls  five,  convex:  suture  deep:  aperture  ob- 
tuse posteriorly,  peritreme  continuous;  labium 
not  appressed  anteriorly,  and  without  a  fold. 

COLOR  very  pale  yellowish-brown;  labium, 
aperture,  and  varicose  bands,  white. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Sent  to  me 
from  Indiana  by  Mrs.  Say. 


PHYSA  SCALARIS,  Jay. 

PLATE  4. — FIG.  9. 

Testa,  ovata,  anfractibus  postice  angulatis:  spira  plano- 
depressa. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
PHYSA  SCALARIS^  JAY'S  Catalogue,  1839,  pi.  1,  figs.  8,  9. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  short,  ovate,  whirls  with  a  distinct 
angulated  shoulder:  apex  truncate-flattened: 
columellar  fold  obsolete. 

COLOR  ,         .  bleached. 


PHYSA  DISTORTA.  35 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Of  this  species,  which  occurs  in  Florida,  I 
have  seen  but  the  single  specimen  in  Dr.  Jay's 
collection.  * 


PHYSA  DISTORTA,  Bald. 

PLATE  5. — FIGS.  1 — 3. 

P.  tests,  laevi,  diaphana,  albida  perforata  contorta  et 
transversa:  anfractibus  3  convexis:  sutura  valde  impressa: 
apertura  subrotundata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PHYSA  (DIASTROPHA)  DISTORTA^  HALD.    This  work,  Oc- 
tober, 1840. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  transverse,  short,  translucent  and  um- 
bilicated;  composed  of  three  very  convex  whirls, 
and  having  a  very  deep  suture:  spire  pointed, 
shorter  than  the  aperture,  which  is  oval,  and 
almost  cyclostomous,  without  any  fold  upon  the 
labium  or  columella. 


36  PHYSA  HYPNORUM. 

COLOR  very  light  yellowish-grey. 
FOREIGN  ANALOGUE.     P.  Guildingii,  Sw. 
GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.    Near  St.  Louis, 
Mr.  Emerson:  Kentucky  and  Ohio. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

I  am  indebted  to  G.  B.  Emerson,  Esq.,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History, 
for  specimens  of  this  curious  shell,  which  were 
collected  (by  himself,  I  believe)  near  St.  Louis. 
It  is  remarkable  for  the  contorted  spire,  and 
entire  absence  of  a  columellar  fold. 


PHYSA  HYPNORUM,  Lin. 

PLATE  5. — FIGS.  4 — 9. 

Testa  elongata,  tenui,  polita  diaphana:  anfractibus  5 — 6 
planiusculis:  spira  subacuta. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

BULLA  HYPNORUM,  LIN.     Syst.  Nat.,  p.  1185. 
PHYSA  HYPNORUM,  DRAP.     Moll.,  pi.  3,  figs.  12,  13. 

"       HYPNORUM,  LAM.     An.  sans  vert.,  v.  viii.  p.  400. 

"•  "          Cuv.     Regne  An.,  pi.  26,  figs.  5,  6. 

"       ELONGATA,  SAY.     Jour.  Acad.,  vol.  ii.  p.  171. 


PHYSA  HYPNORUM.  37 

JlPLEXA  HYPNORUM,  FLEMING.      Moll.  An.,  p.  158. 

JlpLEXUS  HYPNORUM,  GRAY'S  Turton,  p.  255,  fig.  113. 
DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "deep  black,  immaculate  above  and 
beneath:  tentacula  setaceous,  a  white  annula- 
tion  at  base." — Say. 

SHELL  slender,  translucent,  and  highly  polish- 
ed; composed  of  five  or  six  obliquely  revolving, 
flattened  whirls:  apex  apparently  acute,  but 
when  closely  examined,  will  be  found  to  be  con- 
vex: aperture  narrow,  obtusely  rounded  ante- 
riorly, acute  posteriorly;  labium  scarcely  appa- 
rent; columellar  fold  very  slight. 

COLOR  ochre-yellow,  or  light  yellowish-brown, 
sometimes  presenting  violet  and  green  prismatic 
reflexions:  columella  sometimes  rose-coloured. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  Mas- 
sachusetts, Vermont,  New  York,  and  the  West- 
ern States,  "stagnant  ponds  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi." — Say.  "Saskatchewan." — 
Dr.  Richardson.  Figures  7 — 9  were  brought 
from  Lewis'  river,  Oregon,  by  Mr.  Nuttall. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"When  the  shell  includes  the  animal,  it  ap- 


38  PHYSA  GLOBOSA. 

pears  of  a  deep  black  color,  with  an  obsolete 
testaceous  spot  near  the  base  of  the  anterior 
[lower?]  side.  Its  proportions  are  somewhat 
similar  to  P.  hypnorum." 

I  follow  Mr.  James  de  Carle  Sowerby  in  re- 
ferring the  elongata  of  Say  to  the  hypnorum  of 
Linnaeus;  but,  if  the  large  variety  from  Oregon 
should  prove  to  be  a  distinct  species,  the  name 
elongata  may  be  applied  to  it. 


PHYSA  GLOBOSA,  Hold. 

PLATE  5.— FIGS.  10—12. 

Testa  globosa,  tenui;  spira  abbreviate,:  apertura  elongata, 
latissima. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PHYSA  (PHYSELLA)  GLOBOSA,  HALD.     Jour.  Acad.  Nat. 
Sci.,  vol.  viii.  p.  200. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  globose,  translucent;  spire  very  short 
and  rounded;  aperture  very  long  and  wide,  oc- 


PHYSA  MICROSTOMA.  39 

cupying  considerably  more  than  half  the  entire 

area  of  the  shell;  fold  well  marked:  whirls  three. 

FOREIGN  ANALOGUE.     Amphipeplea  involuta. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  small  species  inhabits  the  submerged 
rocks,  in  the  rapids  at  the  mouth  of  Nolachucky 
river,  in  Tennessee,  under  such  circumstances 
as  to  convince  me  that  it  does  not  breathe  the 
free  air.  I  procured  but  two  individuals,  the 
shells  of  which  are  sufficiently  translucent  to 
exhibit  light  circular  dots  upon  the  black  ground 
of  the  mantle;  a  common  character  in  this 
genus. 


PHYSA  MICROSTOMA,  Bald. 

PLATE  4 — FIGS.  12—14. 

P.  test^  crassa,  laevi,   pallida,   elliptica;  anfractibus  4 
planiusculis:  labio  crasso;  columella  bidentata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PHTISA  (PHVSODON)  MICROSTOMA.     This  work,  October 
1840. 


40  PHYSA  MICROSTOMA. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  elliptic,  composed  of  four  flattened 
whirls,  separated  by  a  distinct  but  very  shallow 
suture:  substance  of  the  shell  thick:  spire 
shorter  than  the  aperture,  and  ending  in  a  point: 
aperture  narrow  elliptic,  with  a  continuous  peri- 
treme,  and  the  labium  much  thickened  anterior- 
ly: columella  with  two  nacreous  elevations,  or 
obtuse  teeth. 

COLOR  light  brownish-ochraceous:  columella 
and  external  periodical  (varicose)  bands,  wldte, 
whilst  the  corresponding  internal  bands  are 
chesnut. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Kentucky  and 
Ohio. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  is  a  remarkable  shell,  and  readily  dis- 
tinguished from  all  the  American  species  of 
Physa,  hitherto  described,  by  the  teeth  upon 
the  columella. 


P    HETEROSTROPHA.—Zw. 


clenE.La.wson  del  et  col 


AlexLaweon  S: 


w 


1_9.    f    HZTEROSTROPHJ,      Say.       10.    ^     CONCOLOR,     Hald.      11_13.    T3     OSCVLAKS.     Hald. 


1_8.   P    ANCILLARIA Saj—S,  10.    TaT.     Sayi.  ll._13.   P    FRAGILIS Migh. 


_6.   P.     CrRy-flM,.- Say.  7     8.    f    INTE GRA,~  Hald.  9     7?     SCALjtRIS — Jay. 


Miss  Helen  E  Lawson  del  et  col. 


l._3.    P    DISTORTA.         4_.9.    J?    HTPNORUM.        L0_.12.    7?     aLOBOSA.         13__15.    /> 


,  E  Lam-Bou  del.  el  col. 


GENUS  LIMNEA,  Lamarck. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  1. 

"Testa  oblonga,  interdiim  turrita;  spira  exserta.  Aper- 
tura  Integra,  longitudinalis.  Labrum  acutum,  inferne  ad 
sinistrum  revertens  et  ascendens,  in  columellam  versus 
aperturam  decurrit,  plicamque  obliquam  mentitur.  Oper- 
culum  nullum." — Lamarck. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

HELIX,  LINNAEUS.     BUCCINUM,  MULLER. 

BULIMUS,  BRUGUIERES. 

LYMN^EA,  LAMARCK.   An.  sans  vert.,  vol.  viii.  p.  405. 

LYMN&US,  LIMNJEUS,  DRAP.,  TURTON,  SAY,  &c. 

LIMNEA,  FLEMING,  G.  B.  SOWERBY,  Jr.,  etc. 

STAGNICOLA,  LEACH.     Mollusc.,  p.  141 — 145.  (Gray.) 

CTJVIER.     Mem.  pour  servir.  a  1'Hist.  et  a  1'Anat.  des 

Mollusques. — Le  Regne  Animal,  Mollusques,  p.  71. 
SOWERBY.     Genera  of  Shells. 
PENNY  CYCLOPAEDIA,  vol.  xiii.  p.  500. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  spiral;  elongated  or  subglobular: 
head  depressed  on  each  side;  bearing  two  flat- 
tened, triangular,  elongated  tentacles;  with  the 
eyes  at  their  anterior  internal  base:  mouth 

3    I 


xJ  LIMNEA. 

surmounted  by  a  free,  thin,  and  movable  ap- 
pendage: mantle  simple:  foot  thin,  oval,  not 
extended  anteriorly,  and  shorter  than  the  shell: 
pulmonary  orifice  opening  upon  the  right  side, 
'and  near  it  the  oviduct,  whilst  the  organ  of  the 
deferent  canal  is  situated  near  the  right  tenta- 
cle.' The  sexes  are  united  in  the  same  indi- 
vidual. 

SHELL  thin  in  texture,  oval  or  elongated, 
surface  smooth;  spire  exserted,  tapering  to  a 
point  more  or  less  acute:  aperture  longer  than 
wide,  peristome  incontinuous,  the  labrum  turn- 
ing and  entering  the  aperture  anteriorly,  form- 
ing a  single  oblique  fold  upon  the  columella. 

EXAMPLE.     Limnea  catascopium. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  shell  can  be  most  readily  distinguished 
from  Physa  by  being  dextral;  from  Succinea 
by  the  fold  upon  the  columella,  which  is  want- 
ing in  the  latter  genus;  and  from  Amphipeplea 
by  the  solider  texture  and  more  elongated  form 
of  the  shell.  The  ova  resemble  those  of  Physa, 
except  that  the  latter  are  deposited  in  a  semi- 
circular, and  those  of  Limnea,  in  a  linear  mass. 
This  distinction  I  have  observed  in  several 
species,  but  it  may  not  be  universal. 


LIMNEA.  3 

The  principal  part  of  their  food  is  contained 
in  the  slimy  matter  which  covers  sticks  and 
stones  beneath  the  water,  and  in  the  mud, 
which  is  constantly  found  in  the  intestines. 

Doctor  Gould  informs  me  that  towards  the 
end  of  the  warm  season,  he  has  seen  the 
Limnese  eating  each  other's  shells,  and  as  Mr. 
Jeffreys  has  given  the  same  account,*  it  is 
most  probably  correct;  although  Mr.  Gray 
appears  to  doubt  the  fact,  because  the  apex  is 
sometimes  deciduous,  from  a  different  cause.t 

The  genus  Amphipeplea  of  Nilsson,  unites 
Limnea  and  Physa  by  characters  common  to 
both,  so  that  its  situation  is  difficult  to  deter- 
mine. It  has  the  following  characters  in  com- 
mon with 

LIMNEA.  PHYSA. 

Shell  dextral.  Shell  short. 

Tentacles  triangular.  A  lobed  mantle. 

If  the  foot  is  short  and  oval,  I  would  place  it 
under  Limnea;  if  slender,  and  extended  pos- 
teriorly, it  belongs  to  Physa,  where  I  place  it 

*  Gray's  ed.  of  Turton's  Manual,  p.  231.     London,  1840. 

•}•  To  avoid  unnecessary  repetition  under  each  genus,  an  expla- 
nation of  this  circumstance,  as  well  as  of  others  appertaining 
equally  to  all  the  genera,  will  be  found  in  the  Introduction. 


LIMNEA. 

for  the  present.     We  know  of  no  American 
species. 

Dr.  Sharpey  suggests  that  the  broad  tenta- 
cles in  the  genus  Limnea  may  be  instrumental 
in  aquatic  respiration,  as  they  are  provided  with 
cilia;*  these,  however,  are  not  found  upon  the 
tentacles  alone,  as  I  have  observed  them  upon 
the  edges  of  the  mantle  and  foot,  and  even 
upon  the  sole  of  the  latter;  moreover,  they  are 
not  confined  to  the  Limneans;  the  mantle  and 
foot  (but  not  the  tentacles)  of  Melania,  being 
similarly  supplied.  I  had  thought  that  the  long 
and  slender  tentacles  of  Physa  might  be,  in 
part,  organs  of  scent;t  and  that  the  ciliary 
currents  are  necessary  to  make  them  acquaint- 
ed with  the  locality  of  their  food,  the  aroma  of 
which  could  not  well  spread  through  the  quiet 
waters  they  inhabit — but  the  genus  Amnicola, 
which  does  not  generally  inhabit  stagnant 
waters,  has  slender  ciliated  tentacles  also.J 

*  Cyclopaedia  of  Anat.,  art.  CILIA,  vol.  i.  p.  621. 

j"  Cuvier,  Regne  Animal  Moll.,  p.  46. 

-$.  In  discussing  this  question,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that 
the  oxygenation  of  the  system  through  the  external  surface,  has 
been  effected  in  frogs,  which  have  been  confined  under  water  for 
the  purpose  of  making  the  experiment.  In  this  case,  however, 
the  water  may  find  its  way  to  the  lungs. 


LIMNEA. 


The  tongue  of  the  Limneans  is  almost  con- 
tinually employed  in  the  apparent  office  of 
taking  food,  as  may  be  readily  observed  when 
the  animal  floats  with  the  foot  and  mouth  up- 
wards. I  have,  on  such  occasions  (in  Physa 
heterostropha)  observed  bits  of  matter  to  be 
swallowed,  and  have  found  the  water  to  be  full 
of  Volvox  globator,  and  other  Protozoa,  which 
are  probably  brought  within  reach  by  the 
ciliary  currents. 

The  following  subgenera  are  indicated  without  any  re- 
ference to  the  question  of  their  correctness.  The  number 
happens  to  be  five,  as  in  Planorbis  and  Physa;  but  in  the 
lower  classes,  they  probably  much  exceed  this  number. 
The  number  five  generally  obtains,  because,  in  genera,  a 
greater  number  of  distinct  forms  would  tend  to  run  the 
sections  into  each  other;  and  not  because  Nature  calls  for 
a  particular  number.  Still,  as  strong  arguments  have  been 
brought  forward  in  support  of  a  quinary  arrangement,  I 
think  it  but  fair  that  naturalists  should  give  it  an  impartial 
and  unprejudiced  examination,  in  their  peculiar  depart- 
ments. 

Subgenera  of  LIMNEA. 

LIMNEA,  LAM.     Shell  lengthened,  aperture  slightly  ex- 
panded. 

L.  appressa,  pi.  5. 

RADIX,  MONTFORT.     Shell  short,  greatly  expanded. 
R.  raacrostoma,  pi.  11. 


6  LIMNEA  CATASCOPIUM. 

?  LEPTOLIMNEA,  Sw.     Nearly  cylindrical;    spire   thick, 
lengthened;  aperture  small. 

L.  elongata.  Sow.  gen.  fig.  6. 

BULIMNEA,  HAL.     Shell  thick  in  texture,  inflated,  lip  not 
expanded. 

B.  megasoma,  pi.  3,  fig.  1 — 3. 

JlcELLA,  HAL.     Shell  slender,  whirls  very  oblique,  aper- 
ture expanded.     Probably  the  same  as  Leptolimnea. 
A.  gracilis,  Jay's  catalogue,  pi.  1,  fig.  10. 


LIMNEA  CATASCOPIUM,  Say. 

PLATE  1. 

L.  testa  conica,  tenui,  ochracea;  anfractibus  quinis 
convexis:  suturii  excavata,  spira  acuta:  ultimo  anfractu 
ventricoso,  apertura  ovata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

L.  CATASCOPIUM)    SAY.      Nich.   Encyc.    (Am.   ed.)  art. 

Conch.,  pi.  ii.  fig.  3. — Am.  Conchology,  pi.  Iv.  fig.  2. 
L.  PiNGUisI  SAY.     Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  ii.  p.  123. 
L.  CORNEA,  VAL.     Rec.   d'Obs.   de   Zoologie,  &c.,   par 

Humboldt  et  Bonpland,  vol.  ii.  p.  251. 
L.  VIRGINIANAI  LAM.,  vol.  viii.  p.  411. — DESK.  Encyc. 

meth.  vers.,  vol.  ii.   p.  362,  No.  21. 
L.  GATASCOPIUM,  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  223. 


LIMNEA  CATASCOPIUM.  7 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  light  or  dark  yellowish-brown,  mi- 
nutely sprinkled  with  light  yellowish:  tentacles 
short,  translucent,  and  light  colored  at  their 
anterior  base:  foot  about  as  long  as  the  aper- 
ture, rounded  posteriorly,  with  the  base  very 
minutely  and  thickly  dotted. 

SHELL  smooth  and  polished;  composed  of 
four  or  five  convex  whirls,  in  which  the  lines  of 
growth  are  lightly  marked;  body  whirl  large 
and  ventricose:  suture  well  marked;  spire 
shorter  than  the  aperture;  tapering  to  an  acute 
point:  aperture  ovate:  labium  concave,  with 
the  fold  well  marked. 

VARIETY,  L.  PINGUIS.  "Shell  oval,  rather  ven- 
tricose, pale  dirty  yellowish:  whirls  nearly  four, 
rapidly  diminishing  to  the  apex,  which  is  dull 
fulvous:  suture  moderate:  spire  rather  more 
than  half  the  length  of  the  aperture:  aperture 
large:  labrum  with  the  inner  submargin  a  little 
thickened." — Say. 

COLOR  of  the  outside  ochre  yellow7,  but  fre- 
quently covered  with  a  coating  of  black  foreign 
matter:  inside  sienna  yellow. 

FOREIGN  ANALOGUE.     Limnea  peregra,  Drap. 


8  LIMNEA  CATASCOPIUM. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  Mas- 
sachusetts, Earle's  catalogue:  New  York,  near 
Niagara  Falls,  Dr.  W.  Blanding:  the  Hudson, 
Dr.  Gould:  the  Northwest  Territory,  Mr.  Tay- 
lor: from  'Canada  to  Saskatchewan:'  and  the 
Delaware. 

VAR.  L.  PINGUIS.  The  Northwest  Territory, 
(fig.  9,  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor,)  and  the  Delaware 
(fig.  8—10,)  and  Schuylkill  rivers.  Mr.  Nut- 
tall  has  given  me  specimens  from  Lewis'  river, 
Oregon;  which,  though  considerably  larger, 
appear  to  belong  to  this  variety. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

I  have  thought  it  best  to  unite  two  of  Say's 
proposed  species,  for  the  separation  of  which 
I  think  there  are  not  sufficient  grounds.  My 
suite  of  specimens  is  not  sufficiently  extensive 
to  demonstrate  the  identity  of  the  two;  but 
I  think  the  original  shells  of  my  figures  6  and 
10 — 12,  have  too  near  a  resemblance  to  allow 
them  to  be  separated  as  distinct  species. 

The  variety  differs  in  having  a  shorter  spire, 
and  the  turns  composing  it  more  inflated; 
whilst  the  apex  is  not  as  much  attenuated  as 
in  L.  catascopium. 


LIMNEA  CATASCOPIUM. 

The  animals  of  figs.  1  and  6  were  taken  from 
the  Delaware  at  Camden,  and  are  thickly 
covered  with  Cercaria  bilineata,  Hald.;  a  para- 
site which  must  be  very  annoying,  when  pre- 
sent in  such  numbers,  as  in  this  instance. 

"It  is  with  much  hesitation  that  we  adopt  a 
new  specific  name  for  this  shell  (L.  catas- 
copium),  having  always  heretofore  considered 
it  as  the  same  with  L.  putris  of  Europe;  as  far 
as  we  can  ascertain,  the  principal  difference 
appears  to  be  in  the  more  oblique  revolution 
of  the  whirls  in  the  European  species,  and  the 
more  abrupt  termination  of  the  spire." — Say. 
The  area  of  the  aperture  is  not  as  great,  nor 
is  the  labium  as  much  expanded,  as  in  the 
analogue. 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  1. 

Figure  1  represents  the  animal  at  the  moment  of  open- 
ing the  branchial  cavity,  to  take  in  a  supply  of  fresh  air. 

Figures  1  to  9  represent  different  forms  of  L.  catas- 
copium,  as  restricted  by  Say;  the  specimens  being  all 
from  the  Delaware,  except  those  of  4  and  5;  the  latter  is 
a  profile  outline  of  the  left  side,  showing  the  depth  of  the 
umbilical  emargination:  8,  9  show  the  form  of  the  young: 
and  10,  11,  12  represent  the  variety  L.  pinguis. 

The  foreign  analogue  of  this  species  is  placed  under  the 

j  2 


10  LIMNEA  EMARGINATA. 

subgenus  Radix;  on  which  account,  a  more  characteristic 
species  should  have  been  given  as  the  example  (as  L. 
jugularis;)  but  there  might  be  some  risk  in  citing  an  ani- 
mal which  I  never  saw,  and  which  might  possibly  possess 
anomalous  characters.  Thus  the  editors  of  the  current 
edition  of  the  Regne  Animal,  instead  of  following  their 
rule  of  figuring  none  but  the  best  known  species,  have  de- 
parted from  it  in  preferring  'Cistuda  clausa'  (C.  Carolina) 
a  land  animal,  instead  of  figuring  Terrapene  Europsea,  in 
illustration  of  the  text:  "On  doit  remarquer  parmi  les 
tortues  d'eau  douce,  les  tortues  a  boite."  A  little  caution, 
in  the  study  of  the  Mollusca,  cannot  be  misplaced;  when 
authors  like  Cuvier  and  Duvernoy  have  confounded  the 
Testudininae  with  the  Emydae,  by  placing  too  much  con- 
fidence in  the  character  of  the  shells. 


LIMNEA  EMARGINATA,  Say. 

PLATE  2. 

L.  testa  tenui,  subdiaphana,  anfractibus  quaternis  vel 
quinis  convexis,  ultimo  maximo:  sutura  valde  impressa: 
apice  acuto:  crena  columellari  profunde  emarginata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LIMNEUS  EMARGINATUS,  SAY.      Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci., 
vol.  ii.  p.  270. — American  Conchology,  pi.  55,  fig.  1. 


LIMNEA  EMARGINATA.  11 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  ovate-conic,  thin  in  texture,  translu- 
cent, and  smooth;  having  the  lines  of  growth 
very  fine:  there  are  five  whirls,  which  are  very 
convex,  and  are  separated  by  a  deep  suture: 
apex,  when  present,  acute:  aperture  wide,  and 
more  than  half  the  entire  length:  labium  turned 
over,  so  as  to  form  an  umbilic:  fold  on  the 
columella  obsolete:  colurnellar  depression  deep- 
ly emarginate. 

COLOR  light  ochraceous. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  "lake 
Namakin,  north  of  lake  Superior" — Say:  lakes 
in  the  North-west  Territory, — Mr.  Taylor:  and 
the  State  of  Maine, — Dr.  Gould. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"This  species  is  rather  larger,  and  consider- 
ably wider  than  L.  catascopium;  and  the  emar- 
gination  visible  on  a  profile  view  of  the  um- 
bilical groove,  is  far  more  profound." — Say. 

Specimens  are  not  common  in  collections,  so 
that  it  is  difficult  to  define  the  limits  of  the 
species.  Thus  figure  1  differs  considerably 
from  figure  6,  but  they  both  agree  in  having  a 


12  LIMNEA  EMARGINATA. 

deep  emargination,  as  exhibited  in  figures  3  and 
7 — in  wanting  the  fold  upon  the  columella,  and 
in  having  umbilics  of  the  same  character. 
Should  the  latter  prove  to  be  a  distinct  species, 
I  propose  to  call  it  L.  serrata;  its  distinguish- 
ing characters  being  the  elevated  lines,  and  the 
undulated  peritreme.  It  is  probably  included 
by  J.  D.  C.  Sowerby  among  the  new  species 
discovered  by  Dr.  Richardson. 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  2. 

Figures  4  and  5  are  copied  from  an  authentic  specimen  in 
the  Academy's  collection:  1,2,  3,  represent  a  more  elon- 
gated variety,  drawn  from  an  imperfect  specimen;  and  6, 
7,  8,  a  shell  which  is  more  ventricose,  and  is  marked  with 
a  few  transverse  elevated  lines  upon  the  body  whirl. 
These  two  shells,  with  many  other  species,  were  brought 
from  the  North-west  Territory  by  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor,  who 
gave  them  to  Mr.  Conrad;  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  the 
freshwater  univalves  contained  among  them. 


13 


LIMNEA  MEGASOMA,  Say. 

PLATE  3.— FIG.  1—3. 

L.  testa  maxima,  inflata,  rufa;  spira  acuta,  non  longitude 
aperturae  habente:  anfractibus  quinis  convexis:  sutura 
impressa,  apertura  subovata;  columella  alba,  profunde 
plicata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LYMNEUS  MEGASOMUS,  SAY.  Long's  Expedition  to  the 
source  of  St.  Peter's  river,  &c.,  vol.  ii.  p.  263,  pi.  xv. 
fig.  10. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  blackish, — Binney. 

SHELL  very  large,  oval,  inflated,  and  rather 
solid;  composed  of  five  convex  whirls:  the  lines 
of  growth  are  coarse,  crossed  by  very  fine,  and 
almost  obsolete,  transverse  lines:  suture  deep: 
spire  short,  and  frequently  much  eroded,  in 
large  shells:  aperture  oblong  ovate,  capacious: 
fold  on  the  columella  well  marked. 

COLOR  of  the  shell,  yellowish-brown;  within, 
reddish-brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  in  the 
North-west  Territory,  Say:  (north  latitude 


14  LIMNEA  MEGASOMA. 

48°)  and  collected  by  Dr.  Binney  "in  a  swamp 
in  front  of  the  town  of  Burlington,  Vermont, 
very  near  the  shore  of  Lake  Champlain." 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"This  remarkably  large  and  fine  species  was 
found  in  Bois  blanc  Lake,  North-west  Territory, 
by  Dr.  Bigsby,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for 
specimens.  The  color  is  brownish,  sometimes 
lineated  across  the  body  whorl  with  dull  green- 
ish and  pale  ochraceous;  and  the  chesnut- 
brown  color  of  the  interior  of  the  shell,  com- 
bined with  its  large  dimensions,  distinguish  this 
species  from  all  others  yet  discovered  in  this 
country." — Say. 

The  shell  of  this  species  is  rare  in  collections, 
and  I  am  indebted  to  the  liberality  of  Dr.  A. 
Binney  of  Boston,  for  the  only  specimens  in 
his  cabinet.  The  shell  reminds  one  of  the 
young  of  Plekocheilus  undulatus,  Guilding. 

The  N.  W.  Territory  must  be  the  original 
station  of  this  species;  whence  it  has  reached 
a  distance  of  1,500  miles,  with  the  descending 
waters.  The  more  rapid  current  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  the  difference  in  climate,  have 
doubtless  prevented  it  from  establishing  itself 
in  the  Western  States. 


15 


LIMNEA  RUGOSA,  Val. 

PLATE  3. — FIG.  4 — 5. 

L.  "testa  ovato-conica,  tenui,  alba,  tsenia  fulva  obsoleta 
ornata;  anfractibus  rugis  plurimis  exaratis." — Valenc. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LYMNEA  RUGOSA,  VALENCIENNES.  Receuil  d'Obs.  de 
Zoologie,  etc.,  par  Humboldt  et  Bonpland,  vol.  ii.  p. 
250,  pi.  Ivi.  fig.  5,  a,  b.  An.  1833. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  ovate-conic,  thin,  composed  of  six 
convex  whirls,  upon  the  later  ones  of  which, 
the  lines  of  accretion  are  very  coarse:  aperture 
elliptic,  longer  than  the  spire,  columella  reflect- 
ed upon  the  last  whirl,  so  as  to  form  a  small 
umbilic. 

COLOR  white,  with  a  transverse  spiral  fulvous 
band. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.     Mexico. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  species  was  discovered  by  M.  Bonpland 
in  Mexico.  My  figures  and  description  are 
taken  from  the  work  cited. 


16 


LIMNEA  JUGULARIS,  Say. 

PLATE  4. 

L.  testa  magna,  ovato-conica,  Isevi,  tenui,  pellucida: 
spira  elongata,  attenuata,  apice  subacuto:  anfractibus 
longitudinaliter  minutissime  striatis:  ultimo  anfractu  ven- 
tricoso:  columella  profunde  plicata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

L.  JUGULARIS,  SAY.     Nich.  Encyc.  Art.  Conchology. 

L.  SPECIOSUS,  ROSSMASLER,  pi.  2,  fig.  50. 

L.  STAGNALIS,   Am.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  vol.  xxxi.  p.  36.  note  f. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  large,  thin,  ventricose,  smooth,  and 
diaphanous,  composed  of  six  slightly  convex 
whirls,  of  which  the  lines  of  growth  are  very 
fine:  spire  contracted  and  subulate,  with  the 
apex  pointed:  aperture  large,  inner  side  sub- 
rectilinear,  outer  margin  slightly  expanded: 
columella  with  a  deep  fold:  there  is  no  umbilic, 
the  labium  being  in  close  contact  with  the  last 
whirl. 

COLOR  light  ochre  yellow. 


LIMNEA  JUGULARIS.  17 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Lakes  in  New 
York,  Michigan,  North-west  Territory,  (fig.  2.) 
and  Lewis's  river,  Oregon,  (fig.  1.) 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  shell  of  this  species  bears  a  very  close 
resemblance  to  that  of  L.  stagnalis,  but  may 
be  distinguished  by  the  want  of  the  prominent 
shoulder  to  the  whirls,  which  is  so  conspicuous 
in  that  species.  A  single  monstrous  individual, 
presented  to  Academy's  collection  by  Mr. 
Nuttall,  has,  however,  a  well  developed  shoulder. 
The  surface  of  Stagnalis  has  a  tendency  to 
form  facets,  which  is  not  the  case  with  Jugu- 
laris;  nor  has  it  the  spiral  striae  quite  as  evi- 
dent; a  character  still  better  developed  in  L. 
appressa.  The  revolution  of  the  edge  of  the 
columella  leaves  a  conical  open  axis,  of  about 
equal  size  in  both  species  (but  narrower  in  L. 
appressa)  which  admits  of  a  view  far  into  the 
shell.  Both  species  agree  remarkably  well  in 
the  colour,  texture,  and  translucency  of  the 
shells. 


j  3 


18 
LIMNEA  APPRESSA,  Say. 

PLATE  5. 

L.  testa  magna,  elongata,  pallida,  tenui,  laevi,  transver- 
sim  minutissime  striata,  apice  subacuto:  anfractibus  6, 
subconvexis:  apertura  ovata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LYMNEUS  APPRESSUS,  SAY.     Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol. 

ii.  p.  168. 
L.   spEciosuSj   ZEIGL.,   ROSSMJESSLER,    Iconog.,   pi.   2, 

fig.  50. 

DESCRIPTION. 

"SHELL  elongated  ventricose:  volutions  6: 
spire  regularly  attenuated  to  an  acute  tip, 
rather  shorter  than  the  aperture:  body  whirl 
dilated,  proportionally  large:  aperture  ample, 
columella  with  the  sinus  of  the  fold  profound; 
callus  perfectly  appressed  upon  the  shell,  to  the 
base." — Say. 

COLOR,  pale  ochraceous,  lighter  than  the  pre- 
ceding species,  and  frequently  stained  by  a 
black  foreign  matter. 


LIMNEA  APPRESSA.  19 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  From  Lake 
Superior  to  New  England,  inclusive.  The 
specimens  figured  were  given  to  me  by  Dr. 
Binney,  who  procured  them  at  Burlington, 
Vermont. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

I  am  not  very  confident  that  this  is  distinct 
from  the  preceding  species;  but  admit  it,  be- 
cause it  is  more  attenuated,  lighter  in  color, 
and  has  the  spiral  striae  better  developed. 

I  cited  Rossmassler's  figure  under  the  pre- 
ceding species,  on  the  strength  of  Gray's  Tur- 
ton;  but  I  am  now  able  (through  the  kindness 
of  my  friend  Dr.  Gould)  to  cite  at  once  from 
the  work  itself;  which  convinces  me  that  Ross- 
massler  had  this  species  in  view,  as  his  figure 
and  minute  description  agree  with  it  in  every 
particular. 


20 


LIMNEA  FRAGILIS,  Lin. 

PLATE  6. 

L.  testa  conica,  acuminata,  sub-perforata;  irregulariter 
reticulata,  et  transversim  minutissime  striata:  anfractibus 
6 — 7  convexis:  sutura  impressa. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

HELIX  FRAGILIS,  LIN.    BUCCINUM  PALUSTRE,  MULLER. 
LIMNEUS  E LODES,   SAY.     Journal   of    the    Academy  of 

Natural    Sciences,   vol.    ii.    p.    169. — American    Con- 

chology,  pi.  31,  fig.  3,  March  1832. 
L.  PALUSTRIS,  J.   D.  C.   SOWERBY'S   Catalogue  of  Dr. 

Richardson's  Shells,  No.  32. 
LIMNJEA  E LODES,  GOULD.   Invertebrata  of  Massachusetts, 

p.  221,  figs.  146,  147. 
DESHAYE'S  LAMARCK,  vol.  viii.  p.  409. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  fuliginous,  minutely  dotted  with  wax- 
yellow:  central  portion  dark  above;  color  near- 
ly uniform  below:  foot  elliptical,  about  two- 
thirds  the  length  of  the  body  whirl  when 
extended:  tongue  spoon-shaped,  mouth  mar- 
gined in  front  with  a  black  horny  plate  or 
tooth. — Gould. 


LIMNEA  FRAGILIS.  21 

SHELL  oblong-conic,  slightly  umbilicated, 
composed  of  six  convex  whirls,  the  surface  of 
which  is  frequently  marked  with  irregular  ele- 
vated reticulations,  unconnected  with  the  fine 
lines  of  growth,  or  the  very  minute  spiral  lines: 
suture  very  distinct,  but  not  deep:  aperture 
generally  shorter  than  the  spire,  and  sometimes 
having  a  calcareous  rim  within  the  peristome. 

The  characteristic  shell  has  the  irregular 
elevated  lines,  and  convex  whirls,  as  figure  1. 
The  varieties  are  as  follow: 

A.  Smooth,  whirls  convex,  fig.  3. 

B.  Smooth,  whirls  flattened,  figs.  4  and  11. 

C.  Color  dark,  aperture  irregular,  fig.  6. 

D.  Color  light,  aperture  margined,  fig.  7. 

E.  Aperture  simple,  color  dark  brown,  fig.  9. 
The  varieties  D  and  E  have  the  minute  spiral 

lines  very  distinctly  marked,  but  the  irregular 
reticulations  are  wanting:  when  these  are  pre- 
sent, the  surface  is  divided  into  series  of  facets, 
which  have  been  compared  to  those  upon  cut- 
glass. 

COLOR  various  shades  of  brown  and  yellow- 
ish-brown, aperture  frequently  margined  with 
chesnut. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.     Found  in  the 


22  LIMNEA  FRAGILIS. 

North-west  Territory;  Canada,  as  far  north  as 
Great  Bear  Lake,  and  Maine:  in  Massachu- 
setts, figs.  2,  6,  8,  Dr.  Gould:  New  York  and 
Lake  Erie,  fig.  9:  Ohio,  figs.  1  and  7:  Eastern 
Pennsylvania,  figs.  3,  4,  10,  11,  from  a  spring 
in  Berks  county,  connected  with  the  Schuylkill. 
I  have  a  specimen  H  inches  long,  and  rather 
more  than  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  from  Lewis' 
river,  Oregon,  which  I  refer  to  this  species, 
although  it  is  more  ventricose  than  the  indi- 
viduals we  are  accustomed  to  see. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  Gould  (who  has  given 
an  interesting  account  of  this  species),  for  the 
description  and  drawings  of  the  animal.  Figure 
5  will  give  those  who  are  not  acquainted  with 
the  animals  of  this  family,  an  idea  of  the  form 
of  the  head  and  tentacles. 

Say  remarks  that  his  elodes  "bears  the  most 
striking  resemblance  to  L.  palustris  of  Europe, 
and  I  am  almost  inclined  to  think  it  a  mere 
variety  of  that  species."  I  unite  the  two,  be- 
cause I  am  unable  to  point  out  any  distinguish- 
ing characters  between  them.  Whether  the 
foreign  shells  are  as  variable  among  themselves 


LIMNEA  FRAGILIS.  23 

as  ours  are,  I  cannot  tell;  but  I  have  specimens 
which,  if  found  here,  would  be  named  elodes 
without  hesitation.  The  respective  soft  parts 
may  differ;  but  until  such  a  difference  be  point- 
ed out,  I  cannot  but  consider  the  two  identical; 
nor  can  I  admit  doubtful  species,  or  those 
nearly  allied  to  others,  upon  a  mere  (so  called) 
specific  character,  unless  a  comparative  character 
be  given  at  the  same  time.  Surely  it  is  not 
unreasonable  to  demand  that  enough  be  given 
to  convey  an  idea  of  proposed  species,  which, 
in  many  cases,  are  difficult  to  identify,  even 
from  figures. 

Mr.  Gray  is  of  opinion  that  the  calcareous 
rim  within  the  peristome  of  certain  Limneae  and 
Planorbes,  is  formed  when  the  waters  they 
inhabit  are  nearly  dried  up;  or  in  winter,  when 
they  are  affected  by  cold — preparatory  to  the 
secretion  of  a  diaphragm  for  their  protection 
at  these  times.*  However  this  may  be,  I  have 
never  observed  the  rim  in  any  other  of  our 
species,  and  only  in  variety  D.  of  this,  whose 
appearance  will  always  distinguish  it,  even 
when  this  character  is  wanting.  This  variety 
has  not  been  hitherto  observed  east  of  the 
Allegany  Mountains. 

*  Turton's  Manual,  p.  231  and  267.     London,  1840. 


24 
LIMNEA  UMBROSA,  Say. 

PLATE  7. 

L.  testa  elongata,  ventricosa,  fusca:  spira  attenuata, 
acuta:  anfractibus  senis,  convexiusculis,  transversim  minu- 
tissime  striatis:  apertura  semicirculari;  labro  repando. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LIMNEUS  ELONGATUS,  SAY.   Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol. 

ii.  p.  167. 
LIMN E us  UMBROSUS,  SAY.     Amer.   Conchology,  pi.  31. 

fig.  1. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Shell  lengthened,  ventricose,  composed  of 
six  slightly  convex  whirls,  of  which  the  anterior 
one  is  somewhat  inflated:  surface  covered  with 
numerous  minute  transverse  spiral  lines:  suture 
oblique,  with  little  depth,  but  well  marked: 
spire  attenuated,  with  the  apex  acute:  fold  on 
the  columella  not  well  marked:  aperture  wide, 
nearly  straight  on  the  inside,  wide  anteriorly; 
less  than  half  the  length  of  the  shell:  body 
whirl  above,  longer  than  half  the  entire  length. 


LIMNEA  UMBROSA.  25 

COLOR  various  shades  of  brown,  or  reddish- 
brown;  sometimes  with  light  longitudinal  lines, 
as  in  figue  6:  the  submargin  of  the  peristome 
is  frequently  chesnut. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  "It  inhabits, 
in  considerable  numbers,  the  ponds  and  tranquil 
waters  of  the  Missouri,  in  the  vicinity  of  Council 
Bluff;  and  Dr.  Bigsby  obtained  specimens  in 
Rainy  lake  and  Seine  river  of  Upper  Canada." 
Found  in  New  York,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illi- 
nois. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  shell  is  more  ventricose  than  in  any  of 
the  allied  species,  and  the  fold  upon  the  colu- 
mella  is  liable  to  considerable  variation,  being 
well  marked  in  some  individuals,  and  nearly 
obsolete  in  others.  In  some  shells  the  apex  is 
much  elevated  (the  shell  being  in  the  normal 
position)  because  the  plane  of  the  aperture 
forms  a  large  angle  with  the  axis.  Figures 
2  and  7  represent  this  character  largely  de- 
veloped. 

The  name  first  given  to  this  species  by  Say 
was  preoccupied,  which  led  him  to  redescribe 
it  under  the  one  by  which  it  has  since  been 
known. 

j  4 


26 
LIMNEA  REFLEXA,  Say. 

PLATE  8. 

L.  testa  elongata,  tenui,  fusca;  longitudinaliter  striata: 
apice  acuto:  anfractibus  7  convexiusculis:  sutura  impressa, 
obliquissima:  apertura  elongata:  lamina  columellari  crassa 
et  laxa. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LIMNEUS  REFLEXUS,  SAY.   Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  ii. 

p.  167. — American  Conchology,  pi.  31,  fig.  2. 
LIMNEA  PALUSTRIS,  var.  distortus,  ROSSMASSLER.    Icon., 

vol.  i.  p.  97. 
LYMN^EA  EXILIS,  LEA.     Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.  (new  series), 

vol.  v.  p.  114,  pi.  xix.  fig.  82. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  very  long  and  slender,  composed  of 
seven  flattened,  or  slightly  convex  whirls,  with 
exceedingly  minute  transverse  revolving  lines: 
lines  of  growth  distinct,  but  sometimes  very  fine: 
suture  well  marked,  revolving  very  obliquely: 
aperture  oblong  semicircular;  columellar  fold 
slight;  labium  not  quite  in  contact  with  the 
body  whirl  at  any  part,  particularly  anteriorly, 
where  there  is  a  slight  umbilical  fissure. 


LIMNEA  REFLEXA.  27 

COLOR  fulvous,  or  brownish-ochraceous;  the 
inner  submargin  being  frequently  highly  colored 
with  reddish-brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  in  Supe- 
rior and  Erie  Lakes,  Say:  in  Ohio,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  and  New  York. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  and  the  preceding  species  vary  consi- 
derably among  themselves;  and  occasionally 
approach  each  other  in  such  a  manner,  that  it 
is  possible  they  may  be  but  varieties,  however 
characteristic  specimens  (as  figure  1  of  the 
respective  plates)  may  differ.  I  believe  them 
to  be  distinct;  as,  besides  the  general  form,  the 
columellar  fold  is  better  marked  in  L.  umbrosa, 
and  the  labium  is  in  contact  with  the  preceding 
whirl.  Mr.  Lea  gives  the  want  of  appression 
in  the  labium  as  the  distinctive  character  of  his 
L.  exilis;  but  this  character  is  present  in  all  the 
specimens  figured  upon  plate  8,  except  the 
young,  figs.  7,  8.  I  am  indebted  to  Messrs. 
Anthony,  Conrad,  and  Olmstead,  for  placing 
the  specimens  figured,  in  my  collection. 


28 


LIMNEA  ATTENUATA,  Say. 

PLATE  9. — FIGS.  1—5. 

L.  test  elongata,  tenuissima,  diaphana,  fragili,  acuta: 
anfractibus  7  planulatis:  sutura  impressa,  obliqua:  aper- 
tura  semicirculari;  plica  columellari  impressa. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LIMNEUS  ATTENUATUS,  SAY.  Disseminator,  p.  244,  Aug. 
12th,  1829.— Mrs.  Say's  reprint,  p.  23. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  very  long  and  slender,  with  seven 
slightly  convex  whirls,  revolving  obliquely: 
suture  rather  deep:  apex  suddenly  pointed: 
aperture  small  and  semicircular,  sometimes 
expanded:  columellar  plait  well  marked.  The 
young  shell  does  not  differ  materially  from  the 
adult. 

COLOR  wood-brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  by  Say 
in  the  ditches  and  ponds  about  the  city  of 
Mexico. 


LIMNEA  EXPANSA.  29 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"  This  species  is  more  nearly  related  to  L. 
reflexus,  Nob.,  than  to  any  other  known  species 
of  North  America;  but  it  is  only  necessary  to 
compare  the  two,  in  order  to  perceive  a  wide 
difference  between  them.  The  present  is  smaller 
and  proportionally  more  slender,  and  the  spire 
is  more  attenuated." — Say. 


LIMNEA  EXPANSA,  Hold. 

PLATE  9. — FIGS.  6 — 8. 

L.  test^  inflato-conica,  tenui,  brevi,  diaphana:  aperlura 
lata,  labro  repando:  plica  columellari  profunda. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
L.  EXPANSA,  HALD.     In  this  work,  October,  1840. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  short,  smooth,  translucent,  and  fragile; 
body  whirl  inflated:  spire  as  long  as  the  aper- 
ture, and  rapidly  attenuated  to  an  acute  apex: 


30  LIMNEA  EXPANSA. 

whirls  five,  somewhat  flattened:  suture  shallow, 
but  very  distinct,  aperture  effuse:  fold  on  the 
columella  deep  and  distinct. 

COLOR  brownish  ochre-yellow. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  only  in 
Vermont. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

I  owe  the  opportunity  to  describe  this  new 
species  to  Dr.  Gould,  who  gave  me  specimens, 
and  the  information  that  they  are  from  Ver- 
mont. It  differs  from  L.  elodes  in  having  a 
polished  surface,  expanded  aperture,  obsolete 
lines  of  growth,  translucency,  and  a  deeper 
fold  upon  the  columella.  It  cannot  be  con- 
founded with  any  other  species. 


31 


LIMNEA  DESIDIOSA,  Say. 

PLATE  10. 

L.  testa  sub-inflata,  perforata,  tenui,  lutea:  spira  at- 
tenuata,  apice  acuto:  anfractibus  5  convexis:  sutura  valde 
impressa. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LIMNEUS  DESIDIOSUS,  SAY.     Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol. 

ii.  p.  169.— Am.  Conch.,  pi.  55,  fig.  3. 
L.  OBRUSSA  1  SAY.    Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  v.  p.  123. 
L.  ACUTA,  LEA.    Trans.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  (new  series,)  vol. 

v.  pi.  19,  fig.  81. 
L.  PHILADELPHIA,  LEA.  ib.  Proceedings,  vol.  ii.  p.  32. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  with  the  foot  as  long  as  the  two  last 
whirls:  tentacles  short,  broad,  and  translucent: 
color  light  yellowish-grey,  dark  upon  the  mid- 
dle and  light  upon  the  edges:  surface  minutely 
dotted  with  whitish,  which  forms  spots  between 
the  eyes. 

SHELL  somewhat  inflated,  thin  in  texture, 
and  translucent:  lines  of  accretion  rather  coarse: 
surface  occasionally  broken  by  a  tendency  to 


32  LIMNEA  DESIDIOSA. 

form  irregular  facets:  spire  about  as  long  as 
the  aperture,  and  rapidly  attenuated  to  an 
acute  point:  there  are  five  convex  whirls,  sepa- 
rated by  a  deep  suture:  body  whirl  much  the 
largest:  aperture  wide,  generally  obtuse  poste- 
riorly; peristome  nearly  level:  labium  thick  and 
not  appressed  anteriorly:  colurnellar  fold  slight, 
or  wanting. 

COLOR  light  ochraceous,  sometimes  brownish: 
polished  within;  and  occasionally  white  na- 
creous, or  pink,  anteriorly. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  From  latitude 
35°  to  45°,  and  from  New  England  inclusive  to 
the  Mississippi;  inhabiting  rivulets  and  small 
lakes  in  great  abundance. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  species  is  subject  to  great  variation  in 
the  form  of  the  shell,  but  the  animals  of  the 
slender  and  the  ventricose  varieties  cannot  be 
distinguished;  and  the  shells  approach  each 
other  by  insensible  gradations,  as  I  have 
ascertained  from  the  examination  of  several 
hundred  specimens,  many  of  them  whilst  living. 
Those  represented  by  figures  1,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9, 
are  from  a  pond  of  spring  water  twenty  feet  in 


LIMNEA  DESIDIOSA.  33 

diameter  and  two  feet  deep,  on  the  Susquehan- 
na,  near  my  residence.  It  is  subject  to  desic- 
cation in  very  dry  seasons,  and  has  a  bottom 
of  mud,  and  but  little  vegetation,  which  is 
chiefly  confervoid.  The  soil  is  slightly  cal- 
careous. I  am  thus  particular,  because  this 
pond  appears  very  favourably  adapted  to  the 
growth  of  these  animals,  as  well  as  Physa 
heterostropha  and  Planorbis  bicarinatus.  I 
have  never  found  but  the  single  specimens 
with  as  short  a  spire,  or  as  wide  an  aperture, 
respectively,  as  those  represented  by  5  and  7. 
Having  received  specimens  of  his  'L.  acuta,' 
fig.  14,  and  'Philadelphia,'  fig.  10,  from  Mr. 
Lea,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  referring  them  to 
this  species,  to  which  his  L.  casta  probably 
belongs  also. 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  10. 

The  shells  figured  are  all  Pennsylvanian.  Figures  2 
and  3  represent  specimens  from  Tuscarora  creek,  and  may 
be  assumed  as  good  examples  of  the  species;  10  and  12 
from  near  Philadelphia;  11,  13,  15,  from  near  my  resi- 
dence; and  12,  from  the  gutters  along  the  road  above 
Columbia.  The  last  bears  a  very  close  resemblance  to 
Say's  obrussa,  but  I  cannot,  with  certainty,  refer  the  latter 
to  the  species  under  consideration,  because  I  have  not  a 
sufficient  number  of  authentic  specimens  for  comparison. 

K  5 


34 
LIMNEA  CAPERATA,  Say. 

PLATE  11.— FIGS.  1—9. 

L.  testa  conica,  anfractibus  5 — 6  convexis,  transversim 
minutissime  striatis:  apice  acuto:  sutura  valde  impressa: 
apertura  ovata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LYMNEUS  CAPERATUS,  SAY.    Disseminator,  p.  230,  July 

29th,  1829. — Mrs.  Say's  reprint,  p.  23. 
L.  UMBILICATA,  ADAMS.     Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol. 

iii.  p.  325,  pi.  iii.,  fig.  14. 
L.  UMBILICATA,  GOULD.  Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  218,  fig.  149. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  dark  colored,  approaching  to  black, 
very  minutely  and  sparsely  dotted  with  whitish, 
which  is  scarcely  perceptible,  except  between 
the  eyes:  tentacles  long  and  very  flat:  foot  as 
long  as  the  aperture  and  adjoining  whirl, 
rounded  posteriorly:  in  the  young,  light  spots 
are  sometimes  visible  through  the  shell. 

SHELL  conic,  composed  of  five  or  six  convex 
turns,  separated  by  a  deep  suture:  apex  point- 
ed, and  entire:  lines  of  growth  fine,  but  appa- 


LIMNEA   CAPERATA.  35 

rent:  surface  closely  covered  with  numerous 
and  very  fine  spiral,  light-colored,  elevated, 
epidermal  lines;  which  are  quite  distinct  upon 
the  young  or  half-grown,  but  obsolete  upon  the 
adult  shell:  aperture  ovate,  semicircular,  or 
subrotund:  labium  apparent,  with  scarcely  any 
fold;  and  separated  from  the  basal  whirl  ante- 
riorly, so  as  to  form  a  more  or  less  distinct 
umbilic. 

COLOR  yellowish-brown,  sometimes  marked 
with  whitish  or  reddish  varicose  bands:  aper- 
ture frequently  stained  with  reddish-brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Prof.  Adams 
has  sent  me  specimens  from  Vermont,  and  'L. 
umbilicata'  from  New  Bedford:  Mrs.  Say  from 
the  Wabash:  Dr.  Wm.  Blanding  from  Illinois: 
Mr.  Anthony  from  Ohio:  and  I  have  found  it 
in  eastern  Pennsylvania. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Two  of  the  characters  given  by  Say  to  this 
shell — "spire  half  the  length  of  the  mouth  .... 
suture  not  very  deeply  impressed" — do  not 
apply  to  any  of  seventy  or  eighty  specimens 
now  before  me;  all  of  which  have  a  well  mark- 
ed suture,  the  spire  equalling  the  length  of  the 


36  LIMNEA  SOLIDA. 

aperture,  but  in  most  cases  longer,  and  rarely 
shorter.  There  is,  however,  little  doubt  about 
these  being  the  caperata,  as  they  agree  with 
most  of  the  characters  given,  and  especially 
with  the  description  of  the  revolving  lines. 
These  are  so  superficial,  as  to  be  readily  re- 
moved with  a  brush. 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  11. 

Figures  1,  2,  4,  6,  7,  8,  are  from  specimens  collected 
from  a  spring  of  shallow  running  water,  subject  to  being 
dried  up,  and  flowing  into  the  Susquehanna  at  Marietta, 
Pennsylvania-.  The  bottom  is  a  deep  bed  of  black  tena- 
cious mud,  covered  with  grass. 

Mr.  Adams'  specimens  are  from  a  somewhat  similar 
locality.  Figure  3  is  from  an  Illinois  specimen;  5  from  a 
Vermont  shell;  whilst  9  represents  'L.  umbilicata.' 


LIMNEA  SOLIDA,  Lea. 

PLATE  11.— FIGS.  10—13. 

L.  testa  conica,  laevi,  subsolida,  umbilicata;  apice  acuto: 
anfractibus  4 — 5  convexis,  sutura  excavata:  apertura  sub- 
ovata,  decolorata. 


LIMNEA  SOLIDA.  37 


SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

Z.  SOLIDA,  LEA.  7  Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol.  vi.  p.  94  and 
L.  APICINA,    "    3      102,  pi.  23,  fig.  91. 


DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  obtusely  conical,  smooth,  and  umbili- 
cated;  with  four  or  five  convex  whirls,  separated 
by  a  deep  suture:  apex  pointed:  aperture  polish- 
ed, subovate,  with  the  fold  conspicuous  when 
young,  and  obsolete  in  the  adult. 

COLOR  pale  bluish-grey,  apex  and  aperture 
various  shades  of  reddish-brown:  young  ochra- 
ceous. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  by  Mr. 
Nuttall  near  the  mouth  of  Wallamut  river, 
Oregon. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

As  Mr.  Lea's  figures  91  and  94,  (the  latter 
purporting  to  be  'L.  apicina,')  are  too  distinct 
to  represent  the  same  shell,  it  becomes  neces- 
sary to  give  my  reasons  for  not  admitting  the 
latter  as  a  species.  These  are,  the  fact  that 
my  figures  represent  but  one  species:  the  infor- 
mation from  Mr.  Lea  that  the  shells  figs.  11 


38  LIMNEA  COLUMELLA. 

and  12  are  'L.  apicina,'  the  perfect  agreement 
of  the  former  shell  (fig.  11)  with  the  descrip- 
tion and  remarks,  and  the  tolerable  resemblance 
to  the  figure  of  L.  solida,  and  of  the  shell  fig. 
12,  with  the  description  of  'L.  apicina;'  lastly, 
an  examination  of  his  specimen  of  L.  solida 
(fig.  13)  afforded  me  by  Mr.  Lea. 


LIMNEA  COLUMELLA,  Say. 

PLATE  12. 

L.  testa  ovata,  fragili,  diaphana:  anfractibus  4  convexis, 
ultimo  maximo;  lineis  transversis  minutis  corrugatis:  aper- 
tura  lata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

L.  COLUMELLA,  SAY.  Nich.  Encyc.  (3d  Amer.  edit.) 
Lymnea,  No.  3. — Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  i.  p.  15. 

L.  COLUMELLA,  GOULD.   Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  215,  fig.  144. 

VAR.  CHALYBEA,     "          Ibid.  p.  216,  fig.  145. 

L.  NAVICULA,  VAL.,  in  Rec. d'Obs.  de Zool.  etc.  par  Humb. 
et  Bonpl.,  vol.  ii.  p.  251. 

L.  ACUMINATA,  ADAMS.     Am.  Journ.  Sci.,  vol.  39,  p.  374. 

L.  MACROSTOMUS,  SAY.  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  ii. 
p.  170. 


LIMNEA  COLUMELLA.  39 

L.  MACROSTOMA,  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  217,  fig. 

148. 
L.  COARCTATA,  LEA.     Proceed,  of  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol. 

2,  p.  33. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  ventricose,  ovate,  fragile,  thin  in  tex- 
ture, and  diaphanous:  suture  impressed  and  con- 
spicuous: whirls  4,  with  the  lines  of  accretion 
apparent,  and  crossed  by  minute  spiral  striae: 
spire  narrow,  acute,  and  much  shorter  than  the 
aperture:  aperture  very  large,  more  or  less 
expanded;  labium  a  thin  film  of  enamel,  not 
quite  appressed  anteriorly;  peritreme  extremely 
thin  and  fragile,  entering  the  axis,  and  forming 
an  open  spiral,  of  which  two  or  three  turns  are 
generally  visible. 

COLOR  light  straw  yellow,  frequently  tinged 
greenish,  brown,  or  black,  by  foreign  matter. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Maine,  Massa- 
chusetts, Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  South  Carolina, 
the  North-west  Territory,  and  Lake  Winnipeg. 

FOREIGN  ANALOGUE.     L.  ovata. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  labium  is  sometimes  scarcely  visible, 


40  LIMNEA  COLUMELLA. 

and  in  this  case,  the  shells  are  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish from  those  of  some  species  of  Succinea. 
They  differ  very  much  among  themselves;  and, 
in  some  instances,  approach  L.  auricularia  in 
form.  ;L.  macrostoma'  appears  to  me  to  be 
nothing  more  than  a  variety  with  a  well  ex- 
panded aperture;  a  distorted  individual,  in  fact, 
(fig.  6)  having  been  a  'columella'  until  it  sud- 
denly assumed  the  macrostomous  form  in  the 
body  whirl.  'L.  succiniformis,'  Adams,  MS.,  I 
refer  to  this  species.  Say  alludes  to  a  variety 
which  he  found  in  Missouri,  and  which,  judging 
from  its  color,  must  be  identical  with  the 
variety  'chalybea.'  To  be  obtained  in  perfec- 
tion, this  species  must  be  sought  for  early  in 
the  spring. 

REFERENCE  TO  PLATE  12. 

Figures  13 — 15  represent  the  original  'L.  columella;' 
1 — 5  'L.  macrostoma;'  9  <L.  chalybea;'  and  8,  10 — 12  a 
shining  delicate  variety,  which  may  be  considered  a  dis- 
tinct species  by  some. 


41 


LIMNEA  HUMILIS,  Say. 

PLATE  13.— FIGS.  1—8. 

L.  testa  parva,  ovato-conica,  tenui,  umbilicata:  anfracti- 
bus  4 — 5  convexis:  sutura  impressa. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LYMNEUS  HUMILIS,  SAY.     Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  ii. 

p.  379. 
LYMNEUS  MODIGELLUS,  SAY.    Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci., 

vol.  v.  p.  122. 
LYMNEA  MODICELLUS,  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  218, 

fig.  149. 
L.  PARVAI  LEA.     Proceed.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol.  ii.  p.  33. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  as  far  as  exposed,  translucent;  ex- 
cept the  central  portion,  which  is  very  light 
brown:  tentacles  short,  triangular,  with  a  black 
point  upon  the  anterior  basal  edge. 

"SHELL  (L.  humilis)  ovate  conic,  thin,  trans- 
lucent, with  slight  wrinkles;  volutions  nearly 
six,  convex,  terminal  one  very  minute;  suture 
well  indented;  aperture  about  equal  in  length 
to  the  spire;  labium  with  an  obvious  plate  of 

K   6 


42  LIMNEA  HUMILIS. 

calcareous  deposit;  a  distinct,  and  rather  open 
umbilical  aperture;  color  pale  reddish-white. 
Total  length  seven-twentieths.  Inhabits  South 
Carolina. 

"Of  a  dozen  specimens  sent  me  by  Mr. 
Elliott,  none  exceeded  the  limit  here  assigned 
to  the  species.  It  differs  from  any  other 
species  I  have  seen;  a  variety  of  it,  sometimes 
quite  black,  was  found  by  Dr.  M'Euen  at 
Owego,  on  the  Susquehanna." — Say. 

"SHELL  (L.  modicellus)  blackish,  not  elon- 
gated, whirls  rather  more  than  four,  convex; 
suture  deeply  impressed;  apex  acute;  aperture 
very  regular,  the  labium  and  labrum  being 
subequally  curved;  the  fold  of  the  columella 
rather  slight.  Total  length  aV  of  an  inch; 
breadth  1;  length  of  the  aperture  y. 

"Smaller  than  any  of  the  species  I  have 
hitherto  described.  It  was  found  by  Dr. 
M'Euen,  at  Owego,  on  the  Susquehanna  river, 
near  the  State  of  New  York."— Say.  "The 
animal  of  modicellus  is  bottle-green,  without 
exception." — Gould. 

COLOR  light  yellowish,  and  translucent,  when 
not  obscured  by  foreign  matter. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  From  Maine 
to  South  Carolina  inclusive:  Ohio. 


LIMNEA  HUMILIS.  43 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Found  upon  damp  ground  near  water,  or 
upon  muddy  flats  left  by  the  receding  water. 
It  is  difficult  to  retain  them  in  confinement,  on 
account  of  their  dislike  to  living  in  the  water; 
and  they  accordingly  pass  over  the  edge  of  the 
vessel  in  which  they  may  be  placed,  and  move 
off  to  the  distance  of  several  feet,  upon  a  dry 
surface.  When  too  much  of  their  moisture 
becomes  abstracted,  they  contract,  and  remain 
in  an  apparently  torpid  state,  until  they  are 
moistened.  They  are  infested  by  a  species  of 
Cercaria,  a  genus  which  appears  to  have  been 
first  detected  upon  our  Limneans  by  myself. 
The  short  thick  shells  constitute  the  humilis  of 
Say,  and  are  common  on  the  Susquehanna. 
(Figs.  2,  3.)  These  do  not  quite  correspond 
with  the  Carolina  specimens,  (fig.  1.)  I  have 
received  the  slender  variety  modicella,  from 
Maine,  through  Dr.  Mighels;  from  Massachu- 
setts, through  Dr.  Gould;  and  from  Ohio, 
through  Mr.  Anthony. 

The  shells  are  delicate  and  fragile,  and  differ 
considerably  among  themselves;  but  I  cannot 
regard  them  in  any  other  light  than  as  well 
marked  varieties. 


44  LIMNEA  BULIMOIDES. 

I  inadvertently  neglected  to  have  the  Caro- 
lina shell  (constituting  the  original  humilis) 
figured  in  full;  which  I  regret,  because  the  Sus- 
quehanna  specimens,  though  similar  in  form, 
differ  somewhat  in  texture,  approaching  L. 
desidiosa  in  this  character.  This  leads  me  to 
doubt  whether  they  may  not  eventually  merge 
into  the  last  named  species,  as  a  short,  ventri- 
cose  variety. 


LIMNEA  BULIMOIDES,  Lea. 

PLATE  13.— FIGS.  9,  10. 

L.  testa  curta,  inflata,  perforata,  pallida,  subdiaphana: 
anfractibus  4  convexis:  sutura  impressa. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

L.  BULIMOIDES,  LEA.     Proceedings  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol. 
ii.  p.  33. 

DESCRIPTION, 

SHELL  short  and  inflated,  composed  of  about 
4  convex  whorls;  surface  smooth  and  shining; 
lines  of  growth  inconspicuous  and  undeviating, 


LIMNEA  PALLIDA.  45 

not  crossed  by  spiral  striae:  aperture  as  long  as 
the  spire,  level,  sub-round,  and  slightly  pro- 
duced posteriorly:  labium  very  closely  appress- 
ed,  except  anteriorly,  where  it  forms  a  small 
umbilic;  columella  without  fold:  spire  gene- 
rally much  eroded,  with  the  apex  frequently 
truncated. 

COLOR  pale  ochraceous,  sometimes  marked 
with  reddish  varicose  bands. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Brought  from 
Oregon  by  Mr.  Nuttall. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Small  specimens  resemble  L.  humilis;  but 
the  texture  is  more  dense,  the  appearance  more 
robust,  the  surface  smoother,  and  the  color 
more  decidedly  ochraceous. 


LIMNEA  PALLIDA,  Adams. 

PLATE  13.— FIGS.  11—13. 

L.  tesf&  conica,  fragili,  simplice,  pallida:  anfractibus 
5 — 6  convexis:  plica  columellari  conspicua. 


46  LIMNEA  PALLIDA. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

L.  PALLIDA,  ADAMS.     Bost.  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  iii.  p. 
324,  pi.  3,  fig.  13.— Am.  Journ.  Sci.,  vol.  39,  p.  374. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  conical,  smooth,  imperforate,  thin  in 
texture,  and  fragile;  with  5  or  6  slightly  convex 
whirls,  and  a  shallow  well-defined  suture:  spire 
as  long  the  aperture,  or  longer,  with  a  subacute 
apex:  aperture  ovate,  symmetrical;  columellar 
fold  well  marked,  and  remarkably  constant: 
lines  of  accretion  very  fine,  and  undeviating; 
crossed  by  minute  spiral  corrugations. 

COLOR  varying  from  pale  ochraceous  to 
white;  apex  often  tinged  with  brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  "  Habitat  at 
Shoreham,  Vermont,  on  shores  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  clinging  to  rocks  and  stones." — Adams. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  shell  of  this  species  presents  no  varie- 
ties. It  is  easily  recognised  by  its  regularly 
conical  and  beautiful  form,  pale  uniform  tint, 
and  columellar  fold.  Its  affinities  are  L.  desi- 
diosa  and  L.  humilis. 


47 


LIMNEA  VITREA,  HaU. 

PLATE  13.— FIGS.  14,  15. 

L.  testa  ovata,  perforata,  lata,  tenuissima,  diaphana: 
anfractibus  4  convexis. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
L.  VITREA,  HALD.     This  work,  October  5th,  1841. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  ovate,  extremely  thin  and  delicate: 
surface  smooth  and  polished:  lines  of  growth 
very  fine:  aperture  ample:  the  labium  presents 
a  well  marked  fold,  and  is  not  appressed  ante- 
riorly: spire  short. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Ohio?  Mis- 
souri? 

FOREIGN  ANALOGUE.     L.  tenuis,  Bronn* 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  species  presents  us  with  a  shell  which 
is  probably  thinner  in  texture  than  that  of  any 
other  which  we  have.  For  the  specimens 
figured,  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  G.  B.  Emerson, 
President  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural 
History. 


48 


LIMNEA  DESIDIOSA? 

PLATE  13.— FIGS.  16—18. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

L.  OBRUSSA,  SAY.     Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  v.  p.  123. 
DESCRIPTION. 

"SHELL  oblong,  rather  slender,  pale  yellowish 
testaceous:  whorls  five,  slightly  rounded:  apex 
acute:  suture  deeply  impressed:  aperture  not 
dilated,  within  pure  white:  columella  with  the 
sinus  of  the  fold  very  obvious. 

"LISTER,  pi.   114,  fig.  8?" 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Found  by  Say  in  a  small  rivulet  above  Phila- 
delphia. His  specimens  in  the  Academy's  col- 
lection, agree  very  nearly  with  some  collected 
by  myself  from  ditches  along  the  Susquehanna, 
and  which  I  consider  as  a  marked  variety  of 
L.  desidiosa.  They  are  generally  smaller  and 
narrower  than  this  species;  and  the  posterior 
extremity  of  the  aperture  has  a  stronger  ten- 


LIMNEA  FERRUGINEA.  49 

dency  to  become  obtuse,  as  in  figure  16;  never- 
theless, the  evidence  is  not  sufficient  to  induce 
me  to  believe  the  two  to  be  distinct;  and  I 
consequently  leave  the  question  open  to  future 
observation. 


LIMNEA  FERRUGINEA,  Raid. 

PLATE  13.— FIGS.  19,  20. 

L.  testa  parva,  ovata,  imperforata:  anfractibus  4  con- 
vexis:  sutura  impressa:  apertura  ovata:  plica  columellari 
conspicua. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
L.  FERRUGINEA,  HALD.     This  work,  March  13th,  1840. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  ovate-conic,  thin  in  texture  and  diapha- 
nous, with  4  convex  whirls,  distinct  suture,  and 
well  marked  columellar  fold:  aperture  oval, 
about  as  long  as  the  spire:  labium  appressed: 
ferruginous. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Hab.  Oregon, 
Mr.  Nuttall. 

K   7 


50  LIMNEA  GRACILIS. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Closely  allied  to  L.  humilis,  but  may  be  dis- 
tinguished by  the  want  of  an  umbilic,  and  the 
well  defined  fold  on  the  columella. 


LIMNEA  GRACILIS,  Jay. 

PLATE  13.— FIG.  21. 

L.  testa  pergracili  pallida,  preelonga;  spira  producta: 
anfractibus  4 — 6  planulatis. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
L.  GRACILIS,  JAY'S  Catalogue,  pi.  1,  fig.  10. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  very  slender,  with  from  4  to  6  flat, 
and  very  obliquely  revolving  whirls:  suture 
distinct,  lines  of  accretion  fine;  labium  unat- 
tached, without  fold:  aperture  ovate,  spread 
out,  and  rounded  at  both  ends. 

COLOR  nearly  white. 


LIMNEA  GALBANA.  51 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  is  the  most  slender  species  of  Limnea 
known  to  exist  in  collections,  and  was  dis- 
covered by  Professor  Emmons  in  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  Professor  Adams  mentions  a  specimen 
in  his  cabinet  "one  inch  in  length,  and  in  the 
convexity  of  the  penult  whorl  only  .15  in. 
diameter.  The  last  whorl  is  scarcely  broader, 
except  across  the  lips,  both  of  which  are  ex- 
panded. Although  nearly  seven  times  longer 
than  the  average  breadth,  it  has  only  4J 
whorls." — Am.  Journ.  Sci.,  vol.  40,  p.  268. 


LIMNEA  GALBANA,  Say. 

PLATE  13.— FIGS.  22,  23. 

L.  test£  parva,  curta  perforata,  laevi:  anfractibus  4  con- 
vexis:  sutura  profunda. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
L.  GALBANUS,  SAY.    Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  v.  p.  123. 

DESCRIPTION. 

"SHELL  subovate,  whorls  nearly  five,  very 


52  LIMNEA  CATASCOPIUM. 

convex:    suture  very  deeply  impressed:    apex 
acute:  body  whorl  a  little  flattened  in  the  mid- 
dle:   aperture  not  dilated,  columella  with  the 
sinus  of  the  fold  very  obvious." — Say. 
COLOR  ....  bleached  and  chalky. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  species  is  allied  to  L.  humilis,  but  is 
much  thicker  in  texture,  and  has  a  better  de- 
veloped shoulder  to  the  whirls.  All  the  speci- 
mens known,  occur  in  a  superficial  deposit  on 
the  margins  of  a  pond  or  small  lake  in  western 
New  Jersey,  and  I  believe  the  species  to  be 
extinct,  with,  perhaps,  one  or  two  others  from 
the  same  locality,  which  will  bring  this  deposit 
within  the  Tertiary  period  of  geologists. 


LIMNEA  CATASCOPIUM? 

PLATE  14. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Since  the  article  on  this  species  was  publish- 
ed, Dr.  Mighels  of  Portland,  Maine,  has  sent 


LIMNEA  FRAGILIS.  53 

me  specimens  of  a  species  of  Limnea,  for  which 
he  proposed  the  name  decollate  and  which  he 
has  since  published  in  conjunction  with  Pro- 
fessor Adams,  in  the  Boston  Journal  of  Natural 
History.  Figures  1,  2,  3,  represent  this  pro- 
posed species;  and  4  (distorted)  5,  specimens 
from  Oregon,  referred  to  on  page  8,  as  belong- 
ing to  L.  catascopium.  The  great  resemblance 
existing  between  1  and  5,  is  sufficient  to  induce 
me  to  consider  them  as  being  the  same;  and 
they  do  not  appear  to  have  any  character  to 
warrant  a  separation  from  L.  catascopium,  or 
a  union  with  L.  emarginata,  or  any  other  allied 
species. 


LIMNEA  FRAGILIS,  Lin. 

PLATE  15.— FIG.  1. 
OBSERVATIONS. 

My  friend  Dr.  Gould  objects  to  my  having 
referred  L.  elodes,  Say,  to  the  Helix  fragilis, 
Lin.  In  this,  I  merely  followed  Lamarck,  and 
others,  whom  we  may  presume  to  be  good 


54  LIMNEA  FRAGILIS. 

authority  in  European  conchology.  Yet,  what 
species  the  Helix  fragilis  of  Linnaeus  really  is, 
seems  undecided,  as  will  appear  from  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  Dr.  Gould's  letter: — "I  have 
fallen  in  with  Cantraine's  Malacologie  medi- 
terranee  et  littorale,  in  Mem.  de  PAcad.  des 
Sciences  et  Belles  lettres  de  Bruxelles,  torn,  xiii., 
from  which  I  extract  under  L.  palustris — 'Cette 
espece  que  j'ai  recueillie  dans  la  Salone  etc.  me 
parait  appartenir  aux  deux  continents,  car  je 
ne  pense  pas  que  le  Lymnea  elodes,  Say,  en 
differe,'  p.  158.  Under  L.  stagnalis — 'Comme 
le  dernier  tour  dans  les  adultes  est  hors  de  pro- 
portion avec  ceux  qui  precedent,  le  jeune  age 
doit  avoir  une  autre  physiognomie.  La  coquille 
est  alors  moins  ventrue  et  plus  en  fuseau.  Dans 
cet  etat  c'est  H.  fragilis,  Lin.,  No.  704,  Gmel. 
p.  3658.  L.  speciosus,  Ziegl.  Rossm.  i.  p.  50. 
Sturm  viii.  pi.  12.'  J'y  consens  ! !  I  think  Lin- 
naeus would  never  have  applied  such  a  name  to 
our  elodes  alias  palustris,  when  he  well  knew 
others  so  much  more  fragile." 

Having  already  adopted  the   earlier   name 

fragilis,  and  not  having  sufficient  grounds  to 

induce  me  to  abandon  it,  I  reproduce  it  here, 

although  I  would  not  have  used  it  in  the  first 


LIMNEA  FRAGILIS.  55 

instance  had  I  known  that  doubts  exist  as  to 
the  shell  intended.  The  figure  is  from  an 
Oregon  specimen  alluded  to  on  page  22.  A 
similar  one  has  been  recently  named  L.  Nuttalli 
by  Mr.  Lea. 

Figure  2  of  Plate  15  is  a  faithful  represen- 
tation of  an  European  shell  which  has  recently 
made  its  appearance  in  our  collections,  under 
the  name  of  L.  palustris,  which  I  figure  for 
comparison.  It  differs  so  much  from  the  nor- 
mal appearance  of  this  shell,  that  it  is  possibly 
a  distinct  species,  and  identical  with  our  L. 
umbrosa. 

This  monograph  of  the  genus  Limnea  in- 
cludes all  Say's  species,  together  with  those  of 
other  authors  with  which  I  am  acquainted. 
There  are,  however,  some  names  and  descrip- 
tions of  presumed  new  species,  which  I  cannot 
identify,  and  which  it  will  be  necessary  for 
their  proposers  to  make  known  by  figures  and 
comparative  characters;  as,  to  prevent  this 
work  from  being  interminable,  it  is  not  now  my 
intention  to  recur  to  genera,  which,  like  the 
present  one,  are  as  nearly  finished  as  my  facili- 
ties permit. 


Plato  1. 


.    CATASCOPJITM,    Sav. 


Helm  E.Lawaon  del  et  nol. 


Plate  2. 


,    Say. 


Miss  Helen  E-LMTBOTI  deL  et  col. 


Alei.  Laws  on  Sc. 


PJate  3 


i-3.   X.   MEGASOMA,    Say. 


4_S.    Z.    KVGOSA.    Talen. 


Miss  Helen  E.L»wson  do). 


Plate  -1. 


L .  JUG  ULARIS,    S  ay. 


Ale*  LawBtm  Sc. 


I'lal.-  .• 


L.  -A.PPRESSA,     Say. 


D  Helen  E.Lawson  del  et  col. 


Plate  6 


* 


fRAGfLfS.  — 


M3aEHrieTiE.l,a.-W3on  dolrt  col. 


I.     I'M  II  It  us 


Plate  8. 


V  Liwson  del 


Plate  9 


t_*.     i.    ATTENUATA.     Say.  6_8.     i.    EXPANSA,— Hald. 


Plate  10. 


i 


L.    DESIDIOSA Say. 


i  Helm  E.Lawao-a  del  et  col. 


Plate  11. 


1     L.     CAP£ltATA,^.Sa.v. 


13.    L.     SOLIDA.     Lea. 


Misa  Hcleu"E.i.»wacm  del.et  col 


Plate  12. 


w  }> 


—  Say. 


8_1S.     L.     COLITMELLA,—  ! 


Plate   13 


4  4 

4  5 

f 

4  4 

4  ' 


1__8.     Z.    HUMILIS  __  Say.  9__10.     L. 

u_is.    z..   rrr^ez-^,—  Haid.      i6.._ifl.    z. 

21     X.     GRACILIS,..^3aif. 


awsoi.  delet  col. 


tt.  11—13.     Z. 

?,^.      i9_20.    z. 

22.  -23.     Z.     G  ALB  ANA. 


Alsx.  I.awson    Sc 


MIBS  Helen  Rl.awson  del  at  col. 


Plate  15. 


GENUS   PLANORBIS,  Mutter. 

PLATE  1. — FIGS.  1,2. 

• 

Testa  discoidea,  spira  valde  depressa:  anfractibus  omni- 
bus utrinque  conspicuis:  apertura  lunata,  ab  axe  remotis- 
sima. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

HELIX,  LINNAEUS,  GMELIN,  WOOD,  &c. 
PLANORBIS.     MULLER,  BRTJGTJIERE,  &c. 
LAMARCK.     An.  sans  Vert.,  viii.  p.  379. 
DESHAYES.     In  the  same,  viii.  p.  380.     Anno  1838. 
SOWERBY.     Genera  and  Manual. 

CUVIER.     An.  du  Mus.  Memoires,  Anno  1817,  Regne  ani- 
mal, pi.  26,  fig.  4. 

DESMOULINS.    Tr.  Soc.  Lin.  Bordeaux.     Anno  1831. 
PENNY  CYCLOPAEDIA,  xiii.  p.  495. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  elongated,  slender,  and  closely  rolled 
up;  head  saddle-shaped  and  slightly  emarginate, 
anteriorly:  tentacles  long  and  setaceous;  mouth 
provided  with  a  spoon-shaped  tongue,  opposed 
to  a  concave  tooth  anterior  to  it;  respiratory 
orifice  upon  the  left  side. 

K    1 


Z  PLANORBIS. 

SHELL  an  involute  discoid  spiral,  with  the 
turns  visible  on  both  sides;  aperture  lunated, 
modified  by  the  penultimate  whirl,  and  more  or 
less  oblique,  causing  the  shell  to  incline  towards 
the  left:  apex  not  confined  to  either  side. 

f  Apex  upon  the  left  side.     P.  bicarinatus. 

tf  Apex  upon  the  right.     P.  exacutus. 

fft  Apex  visible  on  both  sides.     P.  deflectus. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

There  has  been  some  difference  of  opinion 
as  to  whether  this  genus  is  generally  dextral 
or  sinistral,  and  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
work  last  cited  (which  includes  Deshayes'  more 
important  remarks)  for  views  upon  both  sides 
of  the  question;  but  as  this  is  not  yet  settled  to 
the  satisfaction  of  all,  a  few  remarks  will  be 
added  to  what  has  been  already  written. 

When  the  animal  of  P.  bicarinatus  or  P. 
corneus  is  placed  so  that  the  margin  of  the 
aperture  rests  horizontally,  (its  normal  position,) 
the  shell  leans  toward  the  left,  because  the  right 
edge  of  the  labrum  is  produced  farther  than  the 
left,*  which  brings  the  spire  to  the  lower,  and 

*  This  view  is  taken  by  Deshayes,  and  is  the  correct 
one;  as  any  one  can  ascertain  by  examining  the  animal 
when  in  motion.  (PI.  1,  fig.  2.) 


PLANORBIS.  3 

the  umbilic  to  the  upper  side.  If  a  dextral,  dis- 
coid Helix  (as  Carocolla  albella)  be  placed  be- 
fore a  mirror,*  the  reversed  image  will  not  cor- 
respond with  a  Planorbis;  as,  in  the  former 
genus,  dextral  or  sinistral,  the  spire  is  invari- 
ably upon  the  right,  or  upper  side;  so  that  the 
shell  of  the  typical  section  of  Planorbis  is 
anomalous,  whether  it  be  viewed  as  dextral  or 
sinistral,  the  apex  being  upon  the  side  towards 
which  the  plane  of  the  peritreme  is  directed. 
This  circumstance  appears  to  have  been  hereto- 
fore overlooked,  to  which  may  be  attributed  the 
difference  of  opinion  upon  this  question.  When 
Sowerby  asserts  (from  examination  of  the  ani- 
mal) that  Planorbis  carries  its  shell  differently 
from  dextral  genera,  he  must  have  looked  at  the 
apex  alone;  for  in  other  respects,  Planorbis 
corneus*  and  Helix  albella  correspond  exactly. 
If  the  apex  is  to  determine  the  question;  sup- 
posing the  animal  to  be  deprived  of  its  shell; 
how  easily  it  might  be  made  dextral  or  sinistral, 
by  pressing  the  part  corresponding  to  the  apex, 
from  side  to  side.  Planorbis  parvus,  deflectus, 
contortus,  vortex,  and  complanatus,  have  flat 
shells,  which  show  the  apex  on  both  sides, 

*  The  comparison  may  be  more  easily  made,  by  using 
a  reversed  Helix. 


4  PLANORBIS. 

whilst  in  P.  armigerus  exacutus  and  Segmentina 
lineata,  it  appears  only  above,  or  on  the  right 
side,  as  in  Helix;  but  all  these  species  have  the 
inclination  of  the  aperture  like  other  Planorbes, 
or  dextral  Helices;  and  independently  of  any 
inclination  of  the  periphery  to  either  side. 

As  an  additional  argument  in  favor  of  the 
aperture  deciding  the  question,  let  us  suppose 
the  apex  and  whirls  of  a  very  flat  Helix,  like 
Polygyra  septemvolva,  to  be  pushed  through; 
and  the  heterostrophe  coil  will  represent,  not  a 
sinistral  Helix,  but  a  reversed  Anostoma;  which 
genus  resembles  the  typical  Planorbes,  in  being 
dextral,  and  having  the  aperture  and  apex  upon 
the  same  side.  These  being  the  facts  of  the 
case,  the  apex  must  be  left  out  of  the  question; 
and  taking  the  animal  and  aperture  as  our  guide, 
we  must  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  shell 
is  dextral,  and  umbilicated  above. 

The  heart  of  Planorbis  is  placed  upon  the 
right  side,  and  the  respiratory  orifice  upon  the 
left,  contrary  to  what  obtains  in  most  pneumo- 
branchiate  mollusca;  but  M.  Desmoulins  ascer- 
tained that  the  organs  of  digestion  and  genera- 
tion are  situated  as  in  dextral  shells;  so  that 
the  arguments  drawn  from  the  former  fact,  are 
more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  latter. 


PLANORBIS.  5 

Planorbis  appears  to  be  more  nearly  related  to  Helix, 
than  any  other  genus  of  Physadas;  in  the  first  place,  by 
the  form  of  the  shell,  and  secondly,  by  the  dentate  aperture 
in  the  subgenera  Segmentina  and  Planorbula.  Some  au- 
thors are  inclined  to  look  upon  this  armature  as  an  artificial 
character,  only  useful  for  specific  distinction;  in  other 
words,  characters,  the  bearings  of  which  are  not  under- 
stood, we,  in  our  ignorance,  call  artificial;  and  arrange- 
ments which  take  them  into  account,  are  designated  by  the 
same  term,  to  distinguish  them  from  natural  arrangements, 
founded  more  or  less  upon  appreciable  relations.*  It  is 
certain,  that  the  more  that  is  known,  the  less  is  it  possible 
to  draw  a  line  of  distinction  between  the  two  assumed  orders 
of  character. 

We  might,  at  first  view,  suppose  size  and  color  to  be 
artificial  characters;  at  least,  as  far  as  genera  are  con- 
cerned; yet  we  find  Paludina  composed  of  comparatively 
large  individuals,  and  the  allied  genus  Amnicola,  of  small 
ones.  Certain  uniform  colors,  lines,  or  spots,  mark  genera 
and  families;  in  Cervus  and  Antilope  the  rump  is  frequently 
of  a  lighter  tint  than  the  general  color;  and  in  Cicindela, 
the  pattern  is  remarkably  uniform  through  a  very  large 
number  of  species.  Under  MELANIA,  some  remarks  will 
be  found  upon  geographical  position,  as  indicating  the 
genus,  in  certain  cases  where  species  present  anomalous  or 
osculating  generic  characters. 

*  Methodus  artificialis  exceptionum  quidem  immunis  esse 
potest,  quia  ex  unitate  principii  divisionis  derivatur;  sed 
systema  naturale  exceptionibus  necessario  abundat,  ad  cha- 
racteres  autem,  non  ad  affinitatem,  pertinentibus. — J2gardh, 
Classes  Plantarum. 


0 


PLANORBIS  BICARINATUS,  Say. 

PLATE  1. — FIGS.  1 — 6. 

P.  testa  utrinque  ad  peripheriam  angulata:  superne  late 
umbilicata,  subtus  valde  depressa:  anfractibus  tribus  fusco- 
lutescente. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  BICARINATUS,  SAY.     Nich.   Encyc.  (Amer.   ed.)   art. 

Conchology,  No.  2,  pi.  i.  fig.  4. — American  Conchology, 

pi.  54,  fig.  3. 
HELIX  ANGULATUS,  RACKETT.     Lin.  Tr.,  xiv.  pi.  5.  fig.  1. 

"  "         WOOD'S  Cat.  supl.,  pi.  7.  fig.  12. 

P.  BICARINATUS,  SowERBy's  Genera,  fig.  4. 
P.  ENGONATUSJ  CON.    New  fr.  w.  shells,  pi.  9,  fig.  8. 
P.  BICARINATUS,  GOULD.  Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  203,  fig.  134. 
HELISOMA  BICARINATA,  SWAINSON.     Malac.,  p.  337. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  with  variable  tentacles,  which  are 
very  long  upon  some  individuals,  and  shorter 
upon  others;  sometimes  they  are  of  different 
length  upon  the  same  individual;  the  general 
color  is  yellowish-brown,  spotted  with  whitish 
or  yellowish  dust-like  dots,  forming  short  lines 
along  the  sides  of  the  head,  extending  back- 


PLANORBIS  BICARINATUS.  7 

wards  from  the  posterior  base  of  the  tentacles; 
there  is  a  similarly  dotted  spot  upon  each  side 
of  the  head  between  the  tentacles  and  in  front 
of  the  eyes;  the  mouth  is  reddish. 

SHELL  with  rather  more  than  three  complete 
whirls,  which  are  angulated  upon  each  side 
near  the  periphery;  the  carina)  do  riot  extend 
to  the  edge  of  the  aperture  in  old  shells;  the 
spire  is  upon  the  left  side,  and  is  depressed 
about  as  deeply  as  the  umbilicated  side;  the 
right  margin  of  the  labrum  is  upon  the  general 
plane  of  that  side  of  the  shell,  whilst  the  left 
margin  extends  beyond  the  plane  of  the  penul- 
timate whirl;  the  carina  upon  the  left  side  forms 
a  smaller  spiral  than  that  on  the  opposite  side. 

COLOR  of  the  outside  brownish;  of  the  inside 
chesnut,  with  pale  lines  in  the  grooves  formed 
by  the  carinse. 

VARIETY  unicarinatus.  Shell  small,  with  the 
whirls  of  the  right  side  rounded;  the  carina  (on 
the  left  side)  revolves  closely,  so  as  to  form  a 
very  narrow  umbilic,  and  the  aperture  is  much 
extended  towards  the  left.  Inhabits  the  Schuyl- 
kill. 

VARIETY  angistoma.  Shell  small,  aperture 
campanulate,  with  the  throat  narrowed. 


8  PLANORBIS  BICARINATUS. 

MONSTROSITY.  P.  engonatus,  Conrad;  of 
which  I  have  seen  but  the  single  original  spe- 
cimen in  Mr.  Mason's  collection. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  General  from 
New  England  to  Georgia;  and  from  the  North- 
west Territory  to  Tennessee,  extremes  included. 
Dr.  Richardson  found  it  from  Lake  Superior  to 
Saskatchewan. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  very  common  species  inhabits  quiet 
waters,  along  the  surface  of  which  it  may  be 
frequently  seen  moving  in  an  inverted  position. 
Its  food  is  mud,  impregnated  with  vegetable 
matter.  The  foot  is  sometimes  reddish,  and 
swollen  by  a  blood-like  liquid,  which  is  dis- 
charged if  the  animal  be  disturbed.  The  ova 
are  deposited  from  March  to  July,  in  small, 
yellow,  irregular,  and  rather  solid  masses. 

It  appears  to  be  easily  affected  by  cold,  as 
it  sinks  into  the  mud,  when  the  temperature 
decreases  slightly,  and  penetrates  deeply  to 
hybernate;  having  the  pulmonary  cavity  filled 
with  air.  The  form  of  the  anterior  portion  of 
the  head,  is  well  adapted  to  enable  the  animal 
to  force  its  way  through  a  soft  material. 


PLANORBIS  CAMPANULATUS,  Say. 

PLATE  1. — FIGS.  7 — 11. 

P.  testa  ochracea,  sinistrorsum  subplana,  dextrorsum 
profunde  umbilicata:  anfractibus  4,  transversim  striatis: 
apertura  campanulata,  intus  angustata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  CAMPANULATUS,  SAY.     Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  2, 

p.  166. 
P.  CAMPANULATUS)  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  204,  fig. 

133. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  compact,  composed  of  four  slowly  en- 
larging, flattened  whirls,  striated  by  the  lines  of 
growth:  right  or  upper  side  deeply  umbilicated, 
the  last  turn  plane,  or  slightly  concave:  the  left, 
or  spire  side,  is  plane,  or  but  slightly  depressed: 
sutures  distinctly  marked:  aperture  deflected  to 
the  left,  much  dilated,  the  throat  narrowed  by  a 
thick  deposit  on  its  anterior  surface;  peritreme 
very  oblique;  labium  meeting  two-thirds  of  the 
diameter  of  the  penultimate  whirl. 

COLOR  yellowish  or  fuscous,  inside  bluish, 
yellowish,  or  chesnut. 

K    2 


10  PLANORBIS  CAMPANULATUS. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  New 
England,  New  York,  Ohio,  Illinois,  and  the 
Northwest  Territory. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Remarkable  for  the  deflection  and  dilatation 
of  the  extremity  of  the  last  whirl,  the  narrow- 
ness of  the  aperture  within;  and  in  having  the 
later  growths  of  the  spiral  but  little  larger,  and 
sometimes  smaller,  than  in  the  preceding  por- 
tions. 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  1. 

Figure  2  represents  the  animal  in  its  normal  position, 
the  shell  being  thrown  to  the  left,  and  the  tip  of  the  apex 
consequently  downwards;  and  1,  the  right,  upper,  obverse, 
or  umbilicated  side;  4  is  a  view  of  the  aperture,  presenting 
the  penultimate  whirl  of  a  greater  diameter  than  sometimes 
occurs;  5  and  6  the  distorted  variety  engonatus;  1  and  3 
are  taken  from  large  shells,  but  I  have  found  a  single  in- 
dividual with  a  diameter  of  three-fourths  of  an  inch.  Figures 
7  and  11  represent  P.  campanulatus,  8  and  10  being  im- 
mature. 


11 


PLANORBIS  GLABRATUS,  Say. 

PLATE  2. — FIGS.  1—3. 

P.  testa  glabr&,  vel  subrugosa;  anfractibus  5  ecarinatis 
et  cylindraceis:  apertura  obliqua. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  GLABRATUS,  SAY.  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  1.  p. 
280,  June  1818.— Nich.  Encyc.,  3d  Am.  ed.,  art.  Conch. 
Planorbis,  No.  4. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  "sinistral;*  whirls  about  five,  glabrous 
or  obsoletely  rugose,  polished,  destitute  of  any 
appearance  of  carina:  spire  perfectly  regular,  a 
little  concave:  umbilicus  large,  regularly  and 
deeply  concave,  exhibiting  all  the  volutions  to 
the  summit:  aperture  declining,  remarkably 
oblique  with  respect  to  the  transverse  diameter. 
Breadth  nearly  nine-tenths  of  an  inch." — Say. 

COLOR  corneous,  or  light  brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Say's  shells  were 
from  South  Carolina:  figs.  1  and  3  were  drawn 

*  Say  would  have  considered  the  shell  of  P.  corneus 
sinistral. 


12  PLANORBIS  GLABRATUS. 

from  Mexican  ?  shells,  and  fig.  2  from  a  New 
Orleans  specimen.  Mr.  Nuttall  has  placed  an 
individual  in  the  Academy's  collection,  which 


he  found  in  Oregon. 


OBSERVATIONS. 

My  shells  do  not  agree  perfectly  with  Say's 
description,  copied  above;  yet  they  most  proba- 
bly constitute  the  species  he  had  in  view.  They 
differ  from  P.  trivolvis  by  having  a  much  more 
oblique  peritreme,  the  whirls  more  nearly  cylin- 
drical, the  diameter  increasing  less  rapidly,  and 
without  any  tendency  to  carination  upon  the 
left  side. 


13 


PLANORBIS  TRIVOLVIS,  Say. 

\ 

PLATE  2.— FIGS.  4—7. 

P.  testa  utrinque  excavata,  ad  sinistram  subcarinata, 
anfractibus  4  subcylindraceis:  pagina  dextra  in  medio 
umbilicata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LISTER.     Conch,  tab.  140,  fig.  46. 

P.  TRIVOLVIS,  SAY.  Nich  Encyc.,  art.  Conchology,  pi.  2, 
fig.  2. — Am.  Conchology,  pi.  54,  fig.  2. — Bulla  fluviatilis, 
(non  Turt.,)  Journ.  Acad.,  ii.  p.  31.  (Junior.) 

P.  CORPULENTUS,  SAY.  WniTTEMORE.  Am.  Journ. Sci., 
vol.  38,  p.  193, 

P.  REGULARI^  LEA.     Proc.  Am.   P.    S.,  vol.   2,  p.   32. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "dark  russet  or  dusky,  covered  with 
pale  yellowish  dots." — Gould. 

SHELL  flattened  laterally,  having  four  sub- 
cylindrical  whirls,  which  are  finely  striated 
across  by  the  lines  of  growth:  left  side  slightly 
carinated,  the  carina  being  most  apparent  upon 
the  inner  whirls:  spire  slightly  impressed,  and 
(within  the  last  whirl)  nearly  level:  there  are 
two  and  a  half  whirls  visible  upon  the  right 


14  PLANORBIS  TRJVOLVIS. 

side,  the  antepenultimate  disappearing  within 
the  umbilical  cavity:  aperture  large,  vaulted 
anteriorly  and  slightly  thickened  within  the 
margin;  its  faces  project  considerably  beyond 
the  planes  of  the  shell. 

COLOR  rufous,  or  yellowish-brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Occurs  in  New 
England,  New  York,  Lake  Erie,  the  Delaware 
and  Schuylkill,  and  in  the  Northwest  Territory. 
Dr.  Richardson  found  it  from  Lake  Superior  to 
Saskatchewan. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  peritreme  is  not  as  oblique  as  in  P. 
glabratus,  and  both  sides  of  the  aperture  pro- 
ject beyond  the  penultimate  whirl,  except  in  the 
variety  fallax,  pi.  3,  fig.  1;  whence  it  happens 
in  the  latter,  that  the  sides  of  the  shell  are 
nearly  parallel,  from  the  slight  increase  of  the 
transverse  diameter  of  the  whirls. 

Bulla  fluviatilis,  Say,  and  Planorbis  regularis,  Lea,  are 
the  young  of  this  species,  first  named  by  the  former,  and 
more  recently  revived  by  the  latter.  If  it  were  a  distinct 
species,  the  original  name  should  be  preserved,  as  it  is  not 
more  objectionable  thanfontinalis,  lacustris,  or  fluviatilis, 
applied  to  Physa  and  Ancylus;  or  fluviatilis,  instead  of  its 
proper  name,  to  an  Anodon. 


15 


P.  TRIVOLVIS,  VAR.  FALLAX. 

PLATE  3. — FIGS.  I — 3. 

P.  testa  subdiaphana;  pagina  sinistra  carinata,  calicifor- 
mi;  calice  lato,  minime  profundo:  anfractibus  4,  minute 
striatis:  suturis  impressis. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
P.  LENTUS,  SAY,  GOULD.  Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  202,  fig.  132. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  dark  brown,  minutely  dotted  with 
ochre-yellow,  upon  the  parts  which  are  usually 
exposed:  tentacles  very  long,  colored  like  the 
body,  except  that  the  tint  is  somewhat  lighter 
near  the  base:  foot,  posterior  to  the  neck,  about 
equal  in  length  to  the  head  in  front  of  the  ten- 
tacles. 

SHELL  thin  in  texture,  translucent,  and  trans- 
versely striate:  two  and  a  half  turns  are  visible 
above,  the  remaining  ones  disappearing  in  the 
narrow  umbilic:  lower  side  carinated,  having  a 
wide,  shallow  cup,  as  in  figure  9,  when  the  left 
posterior  angle  of  the  aperture  advances  along 
the  carina;  but  the  symmetry  of  the  cup  dis- 


16  PLANORBIS  TRIVOLVIS. 

appears,  when  the  inner  portion  of  the  last 
whirl  revolves  to  the  right  of  the  carina,  as  in 
figure  3;  in  this  case,  the  right  margin  of  the 
aperture  is  nearly  level  with  this  side  of  the 
shell,  but  it  is  frequently  thrown  below,  or  to 
the  left  of  it,  when  it  bears  some  resemblance 
to  figure  5:  aperture  slightly  compressed  ante- 
riorly, the  left  margin  extending  beyond  the 
plane  of  the  shell. 

COLOR  light  brown,  sometimes  greenish. 

MONSTROSITY.  Posterior  extremity  of  the 
foot  divided. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Massachusetts, 
Lake  Erie,  Indiana.  ? 

OBSERVATIONS. 

In  color  and  consistency,  the  ova  resemble 
those  of  P.  bicarinatus.  Dr.  Gould  has  ex- 
pressed an  opinion,  that  if  this  be  not  P.  lentus, 
it  must  be  an  uncharacterized  species.  He  re- 
marks that  it  is  "a  darker  shell  than  P.  trivolvis, 
and  is  distinguished  from  it  by  its  left  side  and 
its  aperture.  The  cup  of  the  left  side  is  less 
smooth  and  regular,  and  is  not  bounded  by  the 
sharp,  elevated  line;  when  this  shell  is  laid  upon 
its  right  or  upper  side,  the  lip  of  that  side  will 


PLANORBIS  TRIVOLVIS.  17 

scarcely  touch  the  plane  on  which  it  lies;  while, 
in  P.  trivolvis,  the  shell  would  be  lifted  by  the 
lip;  the  aperture  has  not  the  sharp  angle  of  the 
left  side,  produced  by  the  termination  of  the 
carina,  but  in  the  young  stages  it  is  difficult  to 
distinguish  the  two." 

Professor  Adams  remarks  that  "P.  lentus, 
P.  corpulentus,  and  P.  trivolvis,  of  Say,  are  un- 
doubtedly varieties  of  one  species;"*  but  he 
sent  me  large  specimens  of  P.  trivolvis,  (pi.  2, 
fig.  6,)  as  P.  corpulentus;  and  believed  the  shell 
now  under  consideration  to  belong  to  P.  lentus. 
I  have  figured  it  upon  the  same  plate  with  the 
latter,  to  afford  a  ready  comparison  between 
them;  and  have  thought  best  to  describe  it  at 
large,  under  a  distinct  heading.  I  have  seen  it 
living  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  but  have  ex- 
amined so  small  a  number  of  individuals,  that 
I  do  not  feel  myself  competent  to  make  a  final 
decision  between  two  authors  whose  location 
gives  them  facilities  which  I  do  not  enjoy. 

*  Hist,  of  Vermont,  Appendix. 


K  3 


18 


PLANORBIS  LENTUS,  Say. 

PLATE  3. — FIGS.  4—6. 

P.  testa  opaca,  utrinque  angulata;  superne  profimde  um- 
bilicata;  subtus  anguste  excavata:  anfractibus  4 — 5  crassis, 
ultimo  sinistrorsum  extendens:  apertura  longula. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
P.  LENTUS,  SAY.     Am.  Conchology,  pi.  54,  fig.  1. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  dense,  wide,  and  compact,  composed 
of  four  or  five  coarsely  striated,  convex  whirls, 
of  which  the  last  one,  as  it  approaches  its  ter- 
mination, deflects  to  the  left,  so  that  the  right 
portion  of  the  labium  leaves  about  one-third  of 
the  penultimate  whirl  to  the  right  of  it,  the 
aperture  or  labium  meeting  the  remaining  two- 
thirds:  aperture  extended  in  front,  and  in  con- 
sequence of  the  lower  carina,  having  an  angle 
near  its  junction  with  the  labium:  sutures  dis- 
tinct: cup  of  the  left  side  narrow,  and  rather 
deep. 

COLOR  yellowish-brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.     Found  in  the 


PLANORBIS  CORPULENTUS.  19 

vicinity  of  New  Orleans:  "South  Carolina." — 
Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Distinguished  from  P.  trivolvis,  var.  fallax, 
by  its  greater  size  and  density,  the  stronger  de- 
velopment of  the  upper  carina,  and  of  the  lines 
of  accretion;  the  more  open  umbilic  above,  and 
narrower  and  deeper  excavation  of  the  left  side; 
the  shape  of  the  aperture,  the  curvature  of  the 
striae;  and  finally,  by  the  greater  constancy  and 
extent  of  the  deflexion  of  the  last  turn,  to  the 
left  of  the  obverse  plane  of  the  shell. 


PLANORBIS  CORPULENTUS,  Say. 

PLATE  3.— FIGS.  7—9. 

P.  testa,  magna,  transverse  latissima,  supra  late  umbili- 
cata,  subtus  excavata:  anfractibus  4 — 5  biangulatis,  sese 
obtegentibus,  rapide  accrescentibus;  rugis  exaratis. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  CORPULENTUS,  SAY.     Long's  Expedition  to  the  source 
of  St.  Peter's  river,  p.  362,  pi.  15,  fig.  9. 


20  PLANORBIS  CORPULENTUS. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  large,  composed  of  four  or  five  strap- 
shaped,  compact  whirls,  having  a  considerable 
transverse  diameter  (from  carina  to  carina) 
which  much  exceeds  the  diameter  of  the  aper- 
ture, taken  at  right  angles  to  the  axis:  the  lines 
of  growth  are  distant,  elevated,  and  conspicu- 
ous, giving  the  surface  a  rough  appearance: 
the  right  side  is  widely  and  deeply  umbilicated, 
and  has  a  strong  tendency  to  obtuse  carination; 
the  left  side  is  carinated,  and  presents  a  wide, 
and  rather  deep  cup:  the  aperture  has  but  little 
obliquity,  extends  considerably  to  the  right  and 
left  beyond  the  penultimate  whirl,  and  has  the 
labium  expanded. 

COLOR  light  ochraceous,  the  aperture  some- 
times presenting  a  zone  of  chesnut. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Common  in 
Winnipeek  river  and  lake,  Lake  of  the  Woods, 
and  Rainy  lake. — Say.  Lewis'  river. — Mr. 
Nuttall,  (specimen  figured.) 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  distinguishing  character  of  this  species, 
is  the  width  and  flatness  of  the  whirls,  in  a 


PLANORBIS  EXACUTUS.  21 

direction  parallel  with  the  axis;  but  from  the 
rarity  of  the  shell  in  collections,  overgrown  spe- 
cimens of  P.  trivolvis,  (pi.  2,  fig.  5,)  have  been 
supposed  to  represent  it;  and  it  has  accordingly 
been  referred  to  this  species,  or  described  as 
resembling  it  very  closely. 


PLANORBIS  EXACUTUS,  Say. 

PLATE  4. — FIGS.  1 — 3. 

P.  testa  lenticular!,  parva,  tenui,  umbilicata;  ad  periphae- 
riam  carinata:  anfractibus  4,  supra  planis,  infra  convexis: 
apertura  obliqua. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  EXACUOUS,  SAY.   Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  2,  p.  166. 
P.  EXACUTUS,  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  208,  fig.  137. 

LEA.  Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.  2d, 


P.  LENS  AND  BRONGNIART, 

PALUDINA  HYALINA, 


s.,  vol.  6.  p.  68,  pi.  32,  fig. 
83. — Proceedings,  vol.  2. 
p.  242. 


DESCRIPTION. 


ANIMAL  reddish-brown,   tentacles  short  and 
slender,  eyes  black,  foot  short. 


22  PLANORBIS  EXACUTUS. 

SHELL  lenticular,  fragile,  translucent,  and  fine- 
ly striate;  slightly  convex,  but  concave  towards 
the  centre,  and  margined  with  a  carina  above: 

7  O 

convex,  and  widely  umbilicated  below:  sutures 
moderately  deep:  aperture  very  oblique,  angu- 
lated  by  the  carina  in  front,  and  having  the 
middle  of  the  right  margin  strongly  arched. 

COLOR  light  corneous. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  New 
England,  New  York,  and  the  western  states. 

FOREIGN  ANALOGUE.  P.  nitidus,  Gray's  Tur- 
ton,  fig.  93. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"It  appears  to  be  pretty  closely  allied  to  P. 
nitidus  of  Europe,  but  it  is  larger,  the  umbilicus 
much  more  dilated,  and  the  aperture  does  not 
embrace  the  penultimate  whirl  so  profoundly." 
— Say.  Dr.  Gould  remarks  that  it  differs  from 
the  European  analogue  in  having  the  aperture 
"entirely  below  the  sharp  edge,  instead  of  em- 
bracing nearly  an  equal  portion  on  each  side, 
as  in  that  shell."  Not  having  European  speci- 
mens, I  have  not  been  able  to  institute  a.  com- 
parison with  ours.  It  is  distinguished  from  P. 
deflectus  by  the  flatness  of  the  whirls,  and  less 


PLANORBIS  DILATATUS.  23 

impressed  suture,  upon  the  right  side;  and  from 
P.  dilatalus,  by  greater  magnitude,  wider  um- 
bilic,  and  oblique  aperture. 

Dr.  Gould  thinks  it  probable  that  P.  lens  is  identical 
with  the  next  species;  but  the  figure  and  description  of  it 
appear  to  agree  more  nearly  with  P.  exacutus;  and  this 
opinion  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  Mr.  Lea  proposed 
brongniartiana  (instead  of  lens  which  was  pre-occupied) 
more  than  a  year  after  the  publication  of  Dr.  Gould's  spe- 
cies, and  without  making  any  allusion  to  the  dilatatus  of 
Pfeiffer.  A  less  uncouth  name  than  the  unlatinized  one  of 
M.  Brongniart  might  have  been  proposed;  for  as  it  now 
stands,  it  is  unpronounceable  as  a  latin  word,  and  the  femi- 
nine form  is  objectionable,  although,  in  the  present  instance 
not  as  much  so  as  the  corresponding  masculine  term  would 
be. 


PLANORBIS  DILATATUS,  Gould. 

PLATE  4.— FIGS.  16—18. 

P.  testti  minuta,  margine  carinato;  infra  anguste  umbili- 
cata;  supra  subplana,  sutura  impressa:  apertura  subovata, 
et  dilatata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  DILATATUS,  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  (1841,)  p.  210, 
fig.  140. 


24  PLANORBIS  DILATATUS. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  small,  delicate,  wide,  carinated,  with 
the  lines  of  increment  fine;  closely  umbilicated 
below;  slightly  convex  above,  with  the  suture 
conspicuous,  and  the  apex  slightly  impressed: 
body  whirl  enlarging  rapidly,  and  losing  the 
well  defined  carina  as  it  approaches  the  peri- 
treme,  which,  however,  is  still  somewhat  modi- 
fied by  it. 

COLOR  light  brown,  translucent. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Massachusetts, 
Ohio,  ?  Delaware  river,  Maryland. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

More  closely  rolled,  and  wider  transversely 
than  P.  exacutus  or  P.  parvus;  and  distinguished 
from  both  by  the  narrow  umbilication  of  the 
left  side.  The  right,  or  upper  side,  resembles 
that  of  P.  exacutus,  but  the  margin  is  more  ob- 
tusely carinated,  and  the  edge  of  the  peritreme 
is  not  so  convex. 

Herr  Pfeiffer  has  described  an  European 
Planorbis  dilatatus  in  Wiegmann's  Archiv.  fur 
Naturgeschichte,  1841,  p.  225.  If  it  be  a  true 
species,  it  will  be  rather  difficult  to  determine 


PLANORBIS  DEFLECTUS.  25 

the  question  of  priority;  as  the  German  peri- 
odical, and  Dr.  Gould's  work,  were  published  the 
same  year.  The  later  species  might  be  called 
dilatus,  with  the  citation  of  the  author  to  whom 
it  belongs  as  a  species. 


PLANORBIS  DEFLECTUS,  Say. 

PLATE  4. — FIGS.  4 — 7. 

P.  testa  discoidea,  ad  periphaeriam  obtuse  carinata, 
utrinque  concav&  et  similiter  excavata:  labio  in  anfractum 
ultimum  extenso:  anfractibus  4  compressis. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PLANORBIS  DEFLECTUS,  SAY.     Long's  Expedition  to  St. 

Peter's  river,  p.  261,  pi.  15,  fig.  8. 
PLANORBIS  DEFLECTUS,  GOULD.  Invert,  of  Mass.,  136. 
P.  VIRENS,  ADAMS.  Bost.  Journ.  N.  H.,  v.  3,  pi.  3,  fig.  16. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "dusky  above,  and  with  a  still  darker 
line  to  tip  of  tentacula." — Gould. 

SHELL  discoidal,  thin  in  texture,  smooth,  and 
finely  striate,  with  the  margin  obtusely  cari- 
nated:  sides  exhibiting  about  one-half  of  the 

K    4 


26  PLANORBIS  DEFLECTUS. 

inner  whirls,  and,  with  the  sutures,  moderately 
and  equally  excavated:  last  fourth  of  the  ulti- 
mate volution  with  a  strong  tendency  to  diverge 
toward  the  left,  (figs.  4,  5,)  frequently  not  in  con- 
tact with  the  preceding  whirl:  aperture  large, 
very  oblique:  peritreme  circular,  except  where 
the  labium  advances  upon  the  penult  whirl. 

COLOR  light  corneous. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  New  England, 
Ohio,  Northwest  Territory. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  peculiar  deflection  of  the  aperture,  in 
most  individuals  of  this  species,  and  the  want 
of  a  sharp  carina,  readily  distinguishes  it  from 
P.  exacutus.  Unless  the  deflection  be  very 
great,  as  in  figure  5,  the  lower  side  can  scarcely 
be  styled  umbilicated,  approaching  P.  parvus  in 
this  respect. 

The  species  of  this  genus  which  have  the 
apex  of  the  shell  above,  or  on  the  right  side, 
appear  to  be  most  liable  to  deviations  or  mon- 
strosities, and  the  whirls  appear  to  vacillate  in 
their  revolution,  as  if  a  certain  maintaining 
power  were  wanting,  to  impress,  in  a  decided 
manner,  the  same  characters  upon  all  the  indi- 
viduals of  a  species. 


27 


PLANORBIS  PARVUS,  Say. 

PLATE  4.— FIGS.  19—23. 

P.  testa  simplice,  minimi,  tenui,  laevi,  valde  compressa; 
supra  in  medio  impressa;  infra  late  et  minime  excavata: 
anfractibus  4,  rotundatis,  utrinque  pariter  conspicuis:  suturis 
impressis. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  PARVUS,  SAY.  Nich.  Encyc.,  Am.  ed.,  pi.  1,  fig.  5. 

"         "      GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  209,  fig.  139. 
P.  ELEVATUS,  ADAMS.  Boston  Journ. N.  H., 3,  pi.  3,  fig.  15. 

"         "          GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  207. 
LISTER,  tab.  139,  figs.  45—44? 
"FAVANNE,  pi.  63,  fig.  3. — DILLWYN." — Say,  MS. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  brown,  foot  extending  from  the  labrum 
to  the  centre  of  the  shell,  rounded  posteriorly, 
sides  parallel. 

SHELL  small,  compressed,  minutely  striate, 
smooth,  flat  above,  with  the  centre  impressed: 
left  side  with  a  broad,  shallow  concavity:  whirls 
four,  a  great  part  of  them,  with  the  apex,  visible 
to  the  centre,  on  both  sides:  sutures  equally 


28  PLANORBIS  PARVUS. 

deep:  aperture  oval,  oblique,  longer  than  wide, 
peritreme  undeviating. 

COLOR  of  the  shell,  light  wood-brown,  some- 
times with  a  tinge  of  greenish. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Very  generally 
diffused  over  the  eastern,  middle,  and  western 
states;  and  found  in  the  Northwest  Territory. 

FOREIGN  ANALOGUE.  P.  laevis.  Gray's  Tur- 
ton,  fig.  148. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Except  P.  dilatatus,  this  is  our  smallest  spe- 
cies; individuals  of  a  fourth  of  an  inch  in  size 
being  of  rare  occurrence.  Its  smaller  trans- 
verse diameter,  and  the  more  open  concavity 
of  the  left  side,  distinguish  it  from  small  speci- 
mens of  P.  deflectus,  to  which  it  is  allied  by  a 
tendency  to  deflect  the  last  whirl  towards  the 
left,  and  of  which  figure  20  presents  an  extreme 
case.  Individuals  in  which  this  character  is 
pretty  well  developed,  constitute  P.  elevatus, 
Adams. 


PLANORBIS  ALBUS,  Muller. 

PLATE  4. — FIGS.  8 — 10. 

P.  testa  pallida,  tenui,  hirsuta,  utrinque  anguste  in  medio 
excavata:  anfractibus  4  rotundatis,  lineis  revolventibus  his- 
pidis. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  ALBUS,  MULLER.     Verm.  ii.  164. 

P.  HISPID  us,  DRAP.,  p.  43,  pi.  1,  figs.  45 — 48. 

"         "          LAMARCK.     An.  sans  vert.,  vol.  8,  p.  387. 
P.  HIRSUTUS,  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  206,  fig.  135. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  dark  reddish-brown,  with  a  light  line 
running  back  from  the  posterior  base  of  the 
tentacles,  central  line  of  these,  dark:  eyes  dis- 
tinct black  points,  at  the  antero-internal  base  of 
the  tentacles. 

SHELL  pale,  fragile,  composed  of  four  inflated, 
compact,  circular  whirls,  equally  convex  on  both 
sides,  marked  by  numerous  hispid,  revolving 
lines,  which  are  covered  with  deciduous  bristles: 
each  side  with  a  nearly  similar,  deep,  and  rather 
narrow  excavation:  aperture  oblique,  nearly  cir- 
cular. 


30  PLANORBIS  ARMIGERUS. 

COLOR  whitish,  with  a  very  pale  tinge  of 
brownish. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  Eu- 
rope, New  England,  "Lake  Superior  to  Sas- 
katchewan." 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  shell  is  so  closely  rolled,  that  but  little  of 
the  inner  turns  appear;  and  when  perfect,  is 
easily  recognised  by  the  hirsute  exterior.  Dr. 
Gould  compares  ours  with  the  European  shell, 
but  in  assuming  it  as  distinct,  says  it  is  thinner, 
with  the  last  whirl  increasing  more  rapidly,  and 
that  "it  maintains  its  yellowish-brown  color, 
whereas  P.  albus  assumes  a  spermaceti,  or  still 
whiter  appearance.  The  lines  too,  disappear 
almost  entirely,  when  the  epidermis  is  gone." 


PLANORBIS  ARMIGERUS,  Say. 

PLATE  4.— FIGS.  11—15. 

P.  testa  brunnea,  supra  plana;  subtus  profunde  umbili- 
cata:  anfractibus  4  rotundatis;  suturis  impressis:  apertura 
intus  6-dentata. 


PLANORBIS  ARMIGERUS.  31 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  ARMIGERUS,  SAY.  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.,  vol.  2,  p.  164. 
"  "       GOULD.    Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  205,  fig.  138. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "very  active,  of  a  blue-black  or  slate 
color;  foot  long  and  narrow:  respiratory  groove 
very  acutely  pointed." — Gould. 

SHELL  polished,  with  four  subcylindrical  whirls, 
subcarinated  upon  the  left  side,  and  having  the 
lines  of  accretion  very  fine:  right  side  nearly 
plane,  the  centre  slightly  impressed:  left  side 
widely  and  deeply  umbilicated,  and  exhibiting 
all  the  volutions:  aperture  subrotund,  oblique, 
armed  far  within  (a  fig.  12)  with  six  white  teeth, 
which  nearly  close  the  aperture,  the  largest  thin 
and  oblique,  running  backwards  from  the  left  to 
the  right  side,  (fig.  15,)  on  the  left  of  this  is  a 
small  one,  and  around  the  vault  four  others, 
gradually  increasing  in  size  from  the  left  to  the 
right  side. 

COLOR  light  brown;  peritreme  and  an  occa- 
sional varix,  much  darker. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Eastern,  mid- 
dle, and  western  states,  and  the  Northwest  Ter- 
ritory. 


32  .PLANORBIS  ARMIGERUS. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  teeth  within  the  aperture  may  be  con- 
sidered analogous  to  those  of  certain  Helices, 
but  they  differ  in  the  important  point  of  being 
present  at  every  stage  of  growth.  They  are 
present  when  the  shell  is  less  than  a  line  in 
length,  and  as  but  one  set  exists  in  full  grown 
individuals,  we  must  infer  that  they  are  absorbed 
and  reproduced  from  time  to  time.  In  over- 
grown specimens,  like  those  figured,  it  some- 
times happens  that  the  teeth  are  wanting;  as  if, 
after  their  absorption,  the  energies  of  the  ani- 
mal were  too  far  exhausted  to  reproduce  them. 
The  outer  ones  seem  to  be  formed  successively 
from  left  to  right;  the  small  one  on  the  right 
appearing  last,  and  in  its  absence,  the  shell  has 
been  described  by  Say  and  Gould  as  being  but 
five-dentate. 

In  Segmentina,  three  large  teeth  project,  so 
as  to  leave  a  triradiated  aperture  for  the  pass- 
age of  the  Mollusk;  and  as  the  earlier  ones  are 
not  absorbed,  several  of  the  partitions  thus 
formed,  are  always  present. 


1^6.    P    SICARIN-ATUS,      Say.  7.._11.    P     CAMPANULATirS,      Say. 


Mi36  Helen  E  LawBon  del.ct  col. 


)M 


l_3.    P     GLABRAT17S Say. 


4__7.    P     TSIV'OlVTS.— 


LLasreop  delet  col 


1-3.    P    Var    FALLAX. 


4_6.    F.    LENTUS.— 


• 


1-3.    ^     KXACDTffS Say. 

11-15.    J°    AKMIGERUS Say. 


4_7.    / 
16  ._18.    J°    DILATATU-S Gould. 


19_23.   ,P    PARTU~S Say. 


9 


I 


i 


t 


L    A.    liiri/LAXIS.  —  'o 
5     A.    CWSClfR(fS.^\ 


4.    ^.    DIAPHANUS,-  Raid. 
8.    ^.    CRASS  US,.  .HaJd. 


GENUS    A  N  C  Y  L  U  S,  Mutter,  Gray. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  1. 

Testa  simplex  pATELLJEformis;  apex  posterior,  dextro- 
vertens:  cicatrix  submarginalis,  sinistrorsum  interrupta. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PATELLA,  LINNJEUS,  and  Linnaean  authors. 
CREPIDULA,  FLEMING.    Encycl. 

rfNCYLUS,  MiJLLER,  LAMARCK,  SoWERBY. 

"          LAMARCK.    Animaux  sans  vertebres. 
"          SOWERBY.     Genera  of  Shells. 
"          GRAY.    Turton's  Manual,  p.  247. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  conical,  not  involute,  covered  by  the 
concavity  of  the  shell:  head  emarginate  in  front, 
with  a  small  flap  upon  each  side;  tentacles 
short,  compressed,  widest  at  base,  with  the  sides 
nearly  parallel:  foot  united  to  the  body  through- 
out, except  at  the  anterior  extremity,  where  it 
is  free:  mantle  simple.  Attached  to  the  shell 
by  a  small  portion  of  the  back  of  the  mantle: 

L   1 


2  ANCYLUS. 

capable  of  a  little  extension  beyond  the  shell, 
and  of  turning  nearly  at  right  angles  to  it. 

SHELL  patelliform,  simple,  sinistral,  with  the 
apex  directed  backwards,  and  towards  the  right: 
pallial  impression  submarginal,  interrupted  upon 
the  left  side. 

EXAMPLE.     Ancylus  rivularis,  Say. 

HABITS.  Attached  to  the  sides  and  lower 
surface  of  stones;  or  upon  and  within  dead 
bivalve  shells;  either  in  running  or  quiet  water. 
The  American  species,  as  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, appear  not  to  require  access  to  the 
atmosphere.  PHYSAD^E,  p.  11. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

In  the  genus  Siphonaria  the  pallial  impression 
is  interrupted  in  front,  and  Patella  has  the  apex 
directed  forwards. 

The  breathing  aperture  is  upon  the  left  side, 
next  the  labrum,  or  outer  lip,  as  in  Physa; 
which  it  also  resembles  in  having  the  apex 
directed  to  the  right.  The  tongue  is  long, 
slender,  and  covered  with  minute  teeth,  of 
which  there  are  about  eighty  rows,  and  thirty 
teeth  in  each  row,  in  A.  rivularis;  the  only 
species  I  have  examined.  The  edges  of  the 
mouth  and  head  are  covered  with  vibrillse. 


ANCYLUS. 


The  allied  genus  Velletia,  separated  by  Mr. 
Gray,  is  dextral;  but  as  the  pallial  impression 
is  obsolete  in  delicate  shells,  and  the  apex  fre- 
quently so  much  eroded  that  its  proper  direction 
cannot  be  ascertained,  it  is  sometimes  extremely 
difficult  to  decide  between  the  two  genera.  The 
species  figured  upon  plate  1,  appear  to  be  true 
Ancyli,  no  native  species  of  Velletia  having  yet 
come  under  my  observation. 

Specific  distinctions  are  but  slightly  marked 
in  the  Physadse;  and  in  a  genus  like  Ancylus, 
are  particularly  difficult  to  discover,  from  the 
great  similarity  of  the  spire  and  aperture;  and 
the  absence  of  the  suture  and  columella,  with 
the  consequent  variety  of  character  which  they 
present.  Hence,  the  danger  of  multiplying  spe- 
cies is  greatly  increased,  especially  in  cases 
like  the  present,  where  several  are  characterized 
from  a  small  number  of  individuals;  and  they 
must,  consequently,  be  admitted  with  caution. 

The  outline  figures  (marked  a)  upon  the  plate, 
represent  the  natural  size  of  the  shell  in  profile; 
and  the  dimensions  are  given  as  affording  addi- 
tional means  of  identification.  This  has  not 
been  deemed  necessary  with  those  genera  which 
are  figured  the  natural  size. 


ANCYLUS  RIVULARIS,  Say. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  1. 
A.  testa  ovata,  sublata,  subelevata,  apice  obtuso. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
A.  RIVULARIS,  SAY.     Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  I.  125. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  plumbeois,  minutely  dotted  with 
whitish:  a  central  yellowish  longitudinal  line 
upon  the  head:  foot  emarginate  in  front,  extend- 
ing to  the  mouth,  where  it  is  very  thin. 

SHELL  delicate,  moderately  elevated;  sides 
slightly  convex,  diverging  anteriorly:  posterior 
and  dextral  slopes  concave,  anterior  slope  con- 
vex, and  sinistral  one  nearly  rectilinear:  apex 
subacute,  projecting,  one-third  of  the  shell 
posterior  to  it. 

COLOR  light  brown;  nacre,  in  large  individuals, 
white. 

DIMENSIONS.  Long.  5,  lat.  3.5,  elev.  2  milli- 
metres. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  The  Delaware 
and  Susquehanna. 


ANCYLUS  RIVULARIS.  O 

VARIETY.  A.  BRUNNEUS.  Flatter,  narrower 
behind,  posterior  slope  less  concave. 

HAB.  James  river,  Virginia,  at  Buchanan. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Larger,  and  rather  more  elongate  than  A. 
tardus  and  depressus,  and  having  the  apex 
rather  more  posterior.  Dr.  Gould's  figure  153 
agrees  very  nearly  with  this  species,  but  his 
description  (p.  224)  appears  to  belong  to  A. 
parallelus,  as  the  elongate  A.  fluviatilis  of 
Europe  is  noted  as  an  allied  species. 


ANCYLUS  DEPRESSUS,  Hold. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  2. 

A.   parva,  elliptica,  pallida,  tenui,  diaphana,  depressa; 
apice  obtuso. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  small,  oval,  elliptic,  pale,  thin  in  texture, 
depressed,  ends  similarly  curved,  sides  convex, 
slope  nearly  rectilinear:  apex  obtuse,  with  more 
than  one-third  the  shell  behind  it. 

DIMENSIONS.  Long.  4,  lat.  2.5,  elev.  1.5  mil- 
limetres. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Holston  river, 
in  Washington  county,  southwestern  Virginia. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Paler,  more  depressed,  and  with  a  less  promi- 
nent apex  than  A.  rivularis  and  tardus;  posterior 
slope  less  concave,  than  in  the  former;  and  not 
direct,  as  in  the  latter. 


ANCYLUS  TARDUS,  Say. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  3. 
A.  testa  parva,  regular!,  elliptica;  elevata,  apice  obtuso. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

w5.  TARDUS,  SAY.    Disseminator,  Jan.  15th,  1830. — Mrs. 

Say's  reprint,  p.  26. 
ADAMS.     Thompson's  History  of  Vermont. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  pale  and  delicate,  elliptical;  apex  ob- 
tuse, elevated;  posterior  and  lateral  slopes  sub- 
rectilinear,  anterior  slope  convex. 

DIMENSIONS.  Long.  0.25,  lat.  0.16,  elev.  0.13 
inch.  Adams. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  in  the 
Wabash,  and  in  Vermont. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Higher,  shorter,  and  more  darkly  coloured 
than  A.  depressus,  and  has  the  apex  more 
nearly  central.  It  is  proportionally  broader 
than  A.  rivularis,  and  not  perceptibly  widened 
before. 


8 


ANCYLUS  DIAPHANUS,  Hald. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  4. 

A.  testa  pallida,  lata,  tenui,  subrotunda;  apice  submediali, 
obtuso. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  thin  in  texture,  diaphanous,  very  wide, 
nearly  circular,  depressed:  apex  obtuse,  almost 
central:  slope  scarcely  convex. 

COLOR  very  pale  olivaceous,  translucent,  aper- 
ture white. 

DIMENSIONS.    Long.  5.5,  lat.  4.5,  elev.  2  millim. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Discovered  in 
Ohio,  by  Mr.  Anthony. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Distinguished  by  its  circular  and  flattened 
form;  and  central,  inconspicuous  apex. 


ANCYLUS  OBSCURUS,  Hold. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  5. 
A.  testa  brunnea,  ovata,  latiuscula,  subelevata. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  ovate,  somewhat  elevated,  rather  wide, 
apex  but  slightly  projecting,  rather  more  than 
one-third  of  the  shell  posterior:  lateral  margins 
slightly  convex:  lateral  slopes  rectilinear;  pos- 
terior slope  with  a  very  slight  depression;  ante- 
rior slope  nearly  rectilinear. 

COLOR  dark  brown,  margin  diaphanous. 

DIMENSIONS.     Long.  5,  lat.  3.5,  elev.  1.5  mill. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Founcf  in  No- 
lachucky  river,  below  Greenville. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Rather  wider  than  A.  rivularis  and  depressus; 
more  depressed  than  the  former,  and  lighter 
colored  than  the  latter.  A  single  specimen  was 
obtained,  of  which  the  margin  is  defective. 


L   2 


10 


ANCYLUS  FILOSUS,  Conrad. 

A.  testa  ovali,  elevata;  lineis  elevatis  radiatis  prominen- 
tibus. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

ANCYLUS  FILOSUS,  CONRAD.     New   Freshwater   Shells, 
p.  57. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  "regularly  oval,  rather  elevated;  with 
numerous  radiating  prominent  lines;  apex  very 
prominent,  inclined,  eroded,  not  nearly  central." 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Found  by  Mr.  Conrad  in  Blackwarrior  river, 
south  of  Blount's  springs,  Alabama,  attached  to 
species  of  Melania.  It  is  readily  distinguished 
by  the  elevated  radiating  lines.  Not  having  a 
specimen,  I  give  it  only  a  provisional  place  in 
this  genus. 


11 


ANCYLUS  PARALLELUS,  Hald. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  6. 

A.  testa  elongate,  angusta,  depressa,  diaphana,  apice 
subacuto. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

A.  PARALLELUS.     This  work;  January,  1841. 
"  ADAMS.     Hist,  of  Vermont. 

A.  RIVULARIS,  GOULD.    Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  224. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  pale,  thin,  and  delicate;  lengthened, 
sides  subrectilinear,  diverging  slightly  forwards: 
apex  rather  sharp,  conspicuous,  with  two-fifths 
of  the  shell  posterior  to  it. 

DIMENSIONS.  Long.  0.25,  lat.  0.15,  elev.  0.08 
inch. — Adams. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  New 
England. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

In  general  appearance,  resembles  Velletia 
lacustris,  Miill.,  of  Europe,  but  is  at  once 
distinguishable  by  having  the  apex  directed 


12  ANCYLUS  FUSCUS. 

towards  the  right.  Professor  Adams  remarks 
— "It  was  supposed  to  be  Say's  A.  rivularis, 
not  on  account  of  any  resemblance  between 
the  two  shells,  but  from  the  meagreness  of  the 
description.  From  some  remarks  of  this  learned 
naturalist,  comparing  A.  rivularis  with  A.  tardus, 
it  seems  probable  that  the  former  is  not  an 
elongate  species." — Appendix  to  Thompson's 
History  of  Vermont. 


ANCYLUS  FUSCUS,  Adams. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  7. 

A.  testa  ovata,  depressa;  apice  obtuso;  epidermide  fusca, 
ultra  quam  peritremam  producitur. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

A.  FUSCUS,  ADAMS.     Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  iii.  p. 

329,  pi.  3,  fig.  17. 
A.  FUSCUS,  GOULD.    Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  224,  fig.  152. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL   thin   in   texture,  ovate,  depressed,  a 


ANCYLUS  FUSCUS.  13 

little  narrowed  posteriorly;  lateral  margins 
slightly  convex:  anterior,  posterior,  and  lateral 
slopes,  rectilinear:  apex  very  obtuse,  subcentral: 
epidermis  extending  beyond  the  peritreme. 

COLOR  translucent  pale  yellow,  epidermis 
fuscous,  frequently  discolored  so  as  to  appear 
dark  brown. 

DIMENSIONS.     Long.  7.5,  lat.  5,  elev.  2  mill. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  Fresh 
Pond,  near  Harvard,  Massachusetts. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  large  species  is  remarkable  for  the 
manner  in  which  the  periostraca  extends  beyond 
the  margin  of  the  shell,  upon  the  object  to 
which  the  mollusk  is  attached;  so  as  to  give  to 
the  limb  the  aspect  of  being  reflexed. 


14 


ANCYLUS  CRASSUS,  Raid. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  8. 
A.  testa  magna,  lala,  ovata,  solidula,  elevata. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  coarse,  somewhat  ponderous,  wide, 
ovate,  elevated;  lines  of  growth  conspicuous; 
apex  eroded,  placed  far  back:  anterior  and 
lateral  slopes  convex,  posterior  slope  steep  and 
rectilinear. 

COLOR  opake  chesnut-brown. 

DIMENSIONS.     Long.  8,  lat.  6.25,  elev.  3  mill. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Brought  from 
Oregon  by  Mr.  Nuttall. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Distinguished  by  its  opacity,  and  thick  texture, 
all  the  preceding  species  being  more  or  less 
translucent  and  delicate. 


INDEX. 


Synonyms,  and  the  names  of  such  proposed  species  as  have  not 
yet  been  recognised  from  the  characters  indicated,  are  printed  in 
italics. 


Acella,  p.  14.    .    .    LIMNEA,  p.  6 

Amphipeplea,  .    :        "3,  14 

Ancylus  crassus,          ...    14 

depressus,      ...      6 

diaphanus,     ...      8 

filosus,      ....    10 

fuscus 12 

obscurus,  ....  9 
parallelus,  ...  11 
rivularis,  ....  4 
tardus,  ....  7 

Aplexa, 14,37 

Buccinum,)  .  .  .  LIMNEA,  1 
Bulimnea,  .  .  .  .  "  6 
Bulimus,  ....  PHYSA,  23 

Bulinus, "       23 

Bulla  crassula,  Dillw.       "       23 

fontinalis,  Chemn.  "  23, 29 

Jluviatilis,     PLANORBIS,  13 

hypnorum,       .     PHYSA,  36 

Crepidula,       .     .        ANCYLUS,  1 

Diastropha, 14 

Helix, LIMNEA,  1 

angulatus,      PLANORBIS,  6 

Leptolimnea,  .     .    .      LIMNEA,  1 

Limnea,      ....       PHYSA,  1 

Limnea  acuminata,      ...    38 

apicina,      ....    37 

appressa,   ....    18 

attenuata,       ...    28 

bulimoides,    ...    44 

caperata,    ....    34 

catascopium,      .     6, 52 


Limnea  casta,  Proc.  Am.  P. 

S.ii.  .....  33 

coarctata,    ....  39 

colurnella,      ...  38 

chalybea,     ....  " 

curta,  Proc.  Am.  P. 

S.ii 33 

decollata,   ....  52 

desidiosa,  ....  31 

desidiosa,    ....  48 

dutortus,    ....  26 

elodes, 20 

emarginata,    ...  10 
exigua,  Proc.  Am.  P. 


S.  ii.' 
exilis,  .  . 
expansa,  . 
ferruginea, 
fragilis, 


33 
26 
29 
49 
20,23 


fusiformis,  Proc.  Am. 

P.  S.ii 33 

galbana,  ....  51 
gracilis,  ....  50 
grijjithiana,  Proc.  Am. 

P.  S.  ii 33 

heterostropha,  PHYSA,  23 


humilis, 

jugularis,   .     .     .     . 

kirtlandiana,  Proc. 

Am.  P.  S.  ii.    .    . 

macro stoma.    , 


41 
16 

33 
38 
13 
41 


INDEX. 


Limnea  navicula,    ....  38 
nuttalliana,  Proc.  Am. 

P.S.ii 33 

pallida,      ....  45 

palustris,    ....  20 

parva, 41 

philadelphica,      .    .  31 

pinguis,      ....  6 
planulata,  Proc.  Am. 

P.S.ii 33 

plica,  Proc.  Am.  P. 

S.ii 33 

reflexa,       ....  26 
rubella,  Proc.  Am.  P. 

S.ii 33 

rugosa,       ....  15 
rustica,  Proc.  Am.  P. 

S.  ii 33 

sericatus,  Ziegl.       .  6 

serrata,      ....  12 

solida, 37 

speciosus,     ....  18 

stagnalis,    ....  16 
slrigosa,  Proc.  Am. 

P.S.ii 33 

succiniformis,     .    .  40 

umbilicatcb)      ...  34 

umbrosa,      .     .    24, 55? 

Paludina  hyalina,  PLANORBIS,  21 

Physa  ancillaria,     ....  27 

aurea, 23 

concolor, 30 

distorta, 35 

elliptica, 32 

elongata, 36 

fontana, 26 

fontinaliSj      ....  " 

fragilis, 31 

globosa,    .....  38 

gyrina, 32 

heterostropha,       .     .  23 
hildrethiana,  Proc.  Am. 

P.S.ii 32 

hypnorum,    ....  36 
injlata,  Proc.  Am.  P. 

S.ii 32 


Physa  integra, 33 

microstoma,      ...  39 

osculans,       ....  29 
pomilia,  Con.  Am.  J. 

Sci.xxv.       .     .    .  343 

sayi, 27 

scalaris,    .....  34 
trustensis,  Proc.  Am. 

P.S.ii 32 

Physella, .  14 

Physodon, " 

Planorbella, " 

Planorbina, " 

Planorbis  albus,       ....  29 
antrosus,  Con.  Am. 

J.  Sc.  xxv.      .    .  343 

armigerus,   ...  30 
bellus,  Proc.  Am. 

P.S.ii.     ...  32 

bicarinatus,      .    .  6 
buchanensis,  Proc. 

Am.  P.  S.  ii.       .  32 

campanulatus,      .  9 

corpulentus,      .    .  19 

corpulentus,  ...  13 

deflectus,      ...  25 

dilatatus,      ...  23 

elexatusy   ....  27 

engonatus,     ...  6 

exacutus,      ...  21 

fallax,      ....  15 

glabratus,     ...  11 

hirsutus,   ....  29 

hispidus    .    .    .    .  " 

lens, 21 

lentus,     ....  18 

lentus,      ....  15 

parallelus,  Say,      .  * 

parvus,    ....  27 

regularis,      ...  13 

Irivolvis,       .    .    .  u 

virens,      ....  25 

Planorbula, 14 

Radix, " 

Segmentina, 14 

Stagnicolaj      .    .    .     LIMNEA,  1 


*  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  ii.  p.  164.    Probably  Helix  lineata. 


MONOGEAPH 


OF    THE 


FRESHWATER  UNIVALVE  MOLLUSCA 


OF    THE 


UNITED    STATES, 


INCLUDING   NOTICES  OF  SPECIES  IN  OTHER  PARTS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


BY  S.  S.  HALDEMAN. 


TURBID^. 


Die  Erfodernisse  einer  guten  Abbildung  sind ;  hochste  Treue  in  Dars- 
tellung  der  Gestalt  und  Verhaltnisse,  im  Ausdrukke  der  Oberflache.  .  . 
Beobachtung  der  naturlichen  Gr(5sse.  .  .  Getreue  Nachahmung  der 
Farben.  llliger,  Terminologie,  1800,  §  101. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

1845 


TURBID^. 

Gasteropodous  dioicous  operculate  testaceous 
aquatic  mollusca,  having  a  single  pair  of  ten- 
tacles, with  the  eyes  situated  externally  upon 
an  enlargement  of  the  base:  shell  spiral,  more 
or  less  globose  or  subdiscoidal,  with  the  aper- 
ture entire. 

The  great  and  somewhat  heterogeneous 
family  Turbida^  nearly  corresponds  to  the  genus 
Turbo,  Lin.;  to  Blainville's  second  family  Cri- 
costomata,  of  his  second  order  Asiphonobran- 
chiata;  and  to  Cuvier's  family  of  Trochoides 
(which  includes  the  Melaniana)  of  his  sixth 
order  Pectinibranchiata.  It  includes,  according 
to  each  of  these  systems,  genera  which,  like 
Helicina,  appear  to  belong  more  properly  to  the 
pneumonobranchiate  section. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Gray  makes  the  genera  Ampullaria, 
Paludina,  and  Valvata,  the  types  of  as  many* 
distinct  families.   These  genera  are  indeed  very 
distinct,  but  whether  they  should  be  considered 

E    1 


2  TURBID^:. 

as  the  representatives  of  families  or  subfamilies, 
is  still  an  open  question.  I  have  here  adopted 
the  more  enlarged  signification  of  the  term 
family,  although  I  might  for  convenience  have 
placed  the  few  genera  here  described  in  La- 
marck's family  Peristomata,  to  which  they  cor- 
respond. 

Mr.  Swainson  proposes  the  name  Turbidse 
for  a  family  at  the  head  of  which  he  places 
Amphibola,  Schum.,  (Ampullacera,  Quoy^  as  a 
doubtful  subfamily,  after  leaving  the  Physadae, 
to  which  the  mollusk  is  allied  in  several  im- 
portant particulars.'*  The  subfamily  Ampul- 
larinae  follows,  including  Valvata,  Ampullaria 
and  Paludina;  and  the  subfamilies  Melanianse 
and  Turbinae  are  placed  next,  closing  the  family, 
which  is  thus  made  to  stand  between  the  Heli- 
cidae  and  Naticadae. 

The  last  arrangement  has  much  to  recom- 
mend it,  the  principle  objection  to  it  being  the 
situation  of  the  Helicidse  before  the  more  highly 
organized  genera  Ampullaria,  Melania,  &c. 
•But  this  objection  holds  against  every  system 

*  See  Deshayes'  Lamarck,  viii.  538. 


TURBIDJE.  3 

which  is  founded,  as  most  are,  upon  a  partial 
view  of  the  organization.  Thus  the  lowest 
members  of  the  order  Pisces,  as  the  genera 
Amphioxus  and  Gastrobranchus,  although  they 
belong  to  one  of  the  vertebrate  classes,  are 
lower  in  the  scale  of  being  than  the  insecta, 
which,  in  their  turn,  have  been  improperly 
placed  below  the  akephalous  mollusca,  because 
the  latter  have  a  heart,  an  organ  which  could 
not  be  readily  demonstrated  in  the  former. 

Belonging  to  a  family  or  division  the  greater 
part  of  the  members  of  which  are  marine,  I 
will  not  attempt  to  take  a  general  view  of  the 
whole,  contenting  myself  with  giving  the  history 
of  each  of  the  four  fluviatile  genera  found  in 
the  United  States,  under  its  proper  head. 

In  the  arrangement  of  genera,  as  far  as  this 
work  is  concerned,  (it  having  been  necessary 
to  determine  the  binder's  signatures  from  the 
first,)  it  was  deemed  best  to  place  the  Melaniadae 
at  the  head,  and  enter  the  present  family  by 
Anculosa  and  Amnicola,  which  are  nearly 
allied;  leaving  the  Physadae  by  Ancylus  to  pass 
to  the  Limacidse. 


GENUS  AMNICOLA,  Gould,  Hold. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  1. 

Testa  parva  vel  minuta,  PALUDINJE  similis;  operculum 
corneum,  subspirale. 

• 
SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PALUDINA,  LAM.     SAY,  &c. 

HYDR  OBI  A  ?     H  ARTM  ANN. 

GOULD.  Invert,  of  Massachusetts,  p.  228. 

DESCRIPTION. 

AMIMAL  with  the  head  proboscidiform,  rostrum 
subbifid  at  the  extremity,  and  extending  beyond 
the  foot;  mouth  a  longitudinal  slit  upon  the 
inferior  surface:  tentacles  setaceous,  of  equal 
length:  eyes  at  the  posterior  external  base,  not 
pedunculate:  foot  subovate  or  lengthened,  trun- 
cate anteriorly,  the  angles  capable  of  being 
turned  outwards  as  in  VALVATA,  but  not  to  so 
great  an  extent;  and  it  is  incapable  of  the  ex- 
tension beyond  the  rostrum  observable  in  PALU- 
DINA. 


AMNICOLA.  O 

SHELL  short  or  lengthened  conic,  thin  in  tex- 
ture, composed  of  from  4  to  7  convex  whirls, 
separated  by  a  distinct  suture:  aperture  oblique, 
peritreme  simple,  detached,  or  but  slightly  con- 
nected with  the  body  whirl,  and  usually  by  a 
very  small  portion  of  its  circumference  poste- 
riorly; base  usually  perforate:  operculum  thin, 
corneous,  composed  of  a  few  spiral  volutions. 

HABITS.  A.  decisa  and  lustrica,  where  I  have 
observed  them,  live  upon  the  inferior  surface  of 
stones  in  running  water.  They  are  tolerably 
active,  and  retract  suddenly  when  a  shadow  is 
passed  over  them.  The  ova  are  deposited  in 
the  month  of  March,  in  small  oblong  detached 
glairy  masses,  each  of  which  contains  appa- 
rently but  one  germ,  which  is  situated  at  the 
larger  end  of  the  mass.  The  color  of  the 
germ  is  orange,  of  the  mass  yellowish  transpa- 
rent, with  a  dark  central  line  upon  the  surface 
from  end  to  end.  The  progression,  at  least  of 
the  short  species,  is  performed  upon  the  foot 
alone,  with  a  uniform  gliding  motion  as  in 
Physa. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  natural  genus  seems  at  first  view  to  be 


O  AMNICOLA. 

allied  to  the  terrestrial  ?  genus  Nematura,  Ben- 
son;* and,  as  far  as  the  shell  is  concerned,  it 
has  also  some  affinity  with  Fleming's  sestuary 
genus  Cingula.  It  will  probably  be  found  to  be 
identical  with  Hydrobia,  Hartmann,  if  the  Palu- 
dina  thermalis  be  a  proper  example  of  it.t  If 
the  characters  of  Paludina  parvula,  Guilding, 
Zoological  Journal  iii.  537,  pi.  supp.  28,  figs.  1 
and  2,J  are  constant,  it  is  possibly  distinct  from 
Amnicola;  the  foot  being  lengthened  triangular, 
and  the  left  tentacle  twice  the  length  of  right 
one. 

It  is  difficult  to  separate  the  bare  shells  having 
a  circular  aperture,  from  Valvata  and  Cyclos- 
toma,  and  it  is  possible  that  porata  may  belong 
to  the  former,  and  one  or  two  of  the  others  to 
the  latter  genus. 

*  Vide  Sowerby's  paper  in  Charlesworth's  Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.  i.  217. 

f  This  European  species  is  distinct  from  all  those  de- 
scribed herein.  Among  some  notes  made  in  1840,  but  not 
since  verified,  I  find  that  the  foot  and  antennae  are  furnish- 
ed with  vibrillae,  which  are  interspersed  with  erect  hairs 
upon  the  latter  organs,  the  length  of  the  vibrillae  being 
about  0.01  millemeter;  the  hairs  a  little  more.  About  8 
rows  of  pectinated  branchiae  were  observed. 

^  Copied  in  Swainson's  Malacology  (Cab.  Cyc.)  p.  198. 


AMNICOLA  DECISA,  Hald. 

PLATE  1. — FIGS.  2,  3. 

A.  testa  virescente,  imperforata;  anfractibus  5  planius- 
culis;  labio  subrectilineari,  in  anfractum  ultimum  com- 
presso.  Long.  4  mm. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  dark  colored;  head  blackish,  getting 
lighter  posteriorly;  tentacles  translucent,  dark 
on  the  edges;  an  orange  yellow  spot  at  the 
posterior  internal  base  of  the  tentacles:  foot 
yellowish,  thickly  dotted  with  black  above  an- 
teriorly; anterior  edge  nearly  as  dark  as  the 
head;  base  of  the  foot  thickly  dotted  with 
orange  on  each  of  the  middle,  the  dotting  being 
more  sparse  posteriorly,  and  entirely  wanting 
anteriorly. 

SHELL  rather  short,  conical;  surface  smooth, 
shining  (when  the  dark  foreign  matter  is  re- 
moved) lines  of  growth  fine;  whirls  5,  not  very 
convex,  suture  imprest,  base  slightly  perforate; 
aperture  dilated  semicircular,  labium  slightly 


8  AMNICOLA  DECISA. 

concave,  in  contact  with  the  shell  posteriorly, 
and  nearly  so  throughout  its  length. 

COLOR  pale  green,  and  slightly  translucent 
when  the  black  foreign  matter  is  removed. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  small 
streams  connected  with  the  Susquehanna,  and 
has  been  observed  in  the  Schuylkill  by  Dr. 
Griffith. 

'  OBSERVATIONS. 

Allied  to  Paludina  similis,  Mich.,  of  Europe. 
A  greater  portion  of  the  labium  lies  close  to 
the  shell  in  this  species  than  in  any  other  here 
described,  except  A.  nicliniana,  and  A.  tenuipes, 
which  are  slender  species.  At  first  view  it 
might  be  taken  for  a  minute  Paludina  decisa, 
and  I  have  named  it  accordingly.  In  my  cor- 
respondence I  have  hitherto  called  this  species 
limosa. 


AMNICOLA  CINCINNATIENSIS,  Ant. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  4. 

A  testst  albida,   laevi,  umbilicata;  aperturJt  ovata,  labio 
postice  in  anfractum  ultimum  attingente.     Long.  6  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PALUDINA  CINCINNATIENSIS,  ANTHONY.     Boston  Journal 
of  Natural  History,  vol.  iii.  p.  279,  pi.  3,  fig.  3. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  "somewhat  ventricose,  subumbilicate, 
color  delicate  green:  whorls  four,  smooth;  spire 
entire  at  the  apex  and  prominent;  suture  deeply 
impressed;  aperture  much  dilated,  approaching 
to  orbicular,  nearly  half  the  length  of  the  shell; 
length  one-fifth  of  an  inch." 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  "the 
canal  near  Cincinnati  clinging  to  small  stones." 

This  is  the  most  robust  species  hitherto 
noticed  amongst  us;  and  is,  in  form,  a  miniature 
representation  of  Paludina  ponderosa,  except 
that  it  is  decidedly  umbilicated.  The  opercle 
is  of  a  pale  bright  yellowish-brown  color. 


10 


AMNICOLA  LIMOSA,  Say.. 

PLATE  1.— FIGS.  5,  6. 

A.  testa,  lata,  curta,  late  umbilicata,  livescente;  apertura 
subrotundata,  labio  in  anfractum  ultimum  attingente.  Long. 
5  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PALUDINA  LIMOSA,  SAY.     Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  i.  p. 

125.     Anno  1817.     Nich.  Encyc.  3d  Am.  ed.  1819. 
P.  PORATA,,  ADAMS.     Thompson's  Hist,  of  Vermont,  p.  2  ? 
Jl.  PORATA,  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  229,  fig.  157. 
Jl.  LUSTRICA,  HALD.     In  letters. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  pale  yellow,  a  dark  band  across  the 
head  immediately  in  front  of  the  tentacles, 
around  the  base  of  which  it  turns  and  continues 
backwards  along  the  side  below  the  eye;*  ten- 
tacles translucent,  blackish  along  the  margin. 

SHELL  "conic,  whirls  slightly  wrinkled,  con- 
vex; suture  profoundly  indented;  aperture  oval, 

*  Say  and  Gould  both  notice  this  character,  which  ap- 
pears to  be  constant. 


AMNICOLA  LIMOSA.  11 

nearly  orbicular;  labrum  with  the  superior  edge 
not  appressed  to  the  preceding  whirl,  but  simply 
touching  it;  umbilicus  rather  large,  rounded." 

COLOR  corneous,  with  a  bluish  tinge. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Seems  to  occur 
from  Maine  to  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  "Ex- 
tremely numerous  on  the  muddy  shores  of  the 
rivers  Delaware  and  Schuylkill,  between  high 
and  low  water  marks." — Say. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"  The  aperture  somewhat  resembles  that  of  a 
Valvata,  to  which  genus  it  may  probably  be 
referrible." — Say.  It  occurs  on  the  Susque- 
hanna  in  company  with  A.  decisa.  In  my  cor- 
respondence I  have  used  the  name  'limoscf  in 
accordance  with  the  only  definite  character 
given,  viz:  "length  A,  breadth  iV  inch,"  which 
does  not  properly  apply,  the  breadth  being  equal 
to  the  length ;  but  that  I  was  wrong,  I  am  con- 
vinced by  several  considerations,  the  principle 
being  the  comparison  instituted  by  Say  between 
his  porata  and  limosa.  A  reference  to  my  figures 
5,  6,  and  8,  will  show  how  closely  these  cor- 
respond. 


12 


AMNICOLA  PALLIDA,  Hald. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  7. 

A.  testa  conica,  umbilicata,  pallide  ochracea,  subhyalina; 
apertura  ovata,  lata,  postice  subangulata,  in  anfractum 
ultimum  confluente.  Long.  4  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

A.  PALLIDA)  HALD.     This  work,  December  1841. 

P.  LUSTRICA,  ADAMS.    Hist,  of  Vermont,  App.  p.  2,  19. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Shell  thin  in  texture,  conical,  rather  robust, 
composed  of  4£  convex  whirls,  separated  by  a 
well  marked  suture;  spire  obtuse,  rather  longer 
than  the  aperture;  umbilicus  narrow;  aperture 
ovate-orbicular,  forming  an  angle  posteriorly;  a 
small  portion  of  the  labium  confluent  with  the 
body  whirl  posteriorly. 

COLOR  pale  ochraceous,  translucent. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  Lake 
Champlain. — Prof.  Adams. 


AMNICOLA  FOR  AT  A.  13 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Intermediate  between  lustrica  and  porata.  It 
is  not  as  short  and  transverse  as  the  former, 
which,  moreover,  is  widely  umbilicate  and  has 
the  aperture  regularly  rounded  posteriorly.  Ac- 
cording to  the  description  of  Professor  Adams, 
the  labium  sometimes  scarcely  touches  the  body 
of  the  shell.  The  spire  is  comparatively  longer 
than  in  porata,  the  outline  less  transverse,  and 
the  aperture  not  orbicular. 


AMNICOLA  PORATA,  Say. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  8. 

A.  test£  lata,  curta,  late  umbilicata;  anfractibus  4$  cylin- 
draceis,  lineis  obsoletis  eleVatis  revolventibus;  aperturk 
rotundatiL  Long.  5^  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
P.  PORATA,  SAY.    Journal  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  ii.  p.  174. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  "obtusely  conic  or  subglobose;  volu- 


14  AMNICOLA  PORATA. 

tions  four,  convex,  obsoletely  wrinkled  across; 
spire  obtuse;  labrum  and  labium  equally  round- 
ed, meeting  above  in  a  subacute  angle;  the 
upper  edge  of  the  latter  appressed  to  the  pre- 
ceding whirl;  umbilicus  very  distinct." — Say. 

COLOR  pale  ochraceous. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  Cayuga 
lake. — Say. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"Rather  larger  and  more  globose  than  P. 
limosa,  to  which  it  is  allied,  and  has  a  more  dis- 
tinct umbilicus.  It  resembles  P.  dedpiens  of 
Ferussac,  but  is  much  less  acute,  and  rather 
smaller." — Say.  This  shell  so  much  resembles 
a  Valvata,  that  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  living 
or  operculated  individuals  have  not  yet  been 
observed. 


15 


AMNICOLA  GALBANA,  Hold. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  9. 

A.  testa  (inter  DECISAM  et  PALLIDAM  intermedia)  conica, 
solidula,  laevi,  umbilicata,  apertura  late  ovata.  Long.  4 
mm. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  conical,  smooth,  shining,  composed  of 
4J  not  very  convex  whirls,  having  the  lines  of 
growth  very  fine:  base  with  a  narrow  umbilic: 
aperture  nearly  circular,  slightly  produced  in  an 
angle  posteriorly;  labium  slightly  thickened;  a 
small  portion  of  it,  which  is  rectilinear,  in  slight 
contact  with  the  body  whirl. 

COLOR  .  .  .  bleached  and  chalky. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Occurs  fossil 
in  the  freshwater  newest  tertiary  deposit  in 
Sussex  county,  New  Jersey. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Figure  3  of  A.  decisa  is  a  tolerably  good  re- 
presentation of  this  shell,  which  differs  in  having 
a  small,  well  defined  umbilic. 


16 


AMNICOLA  LUSTRICA,  Say. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PALUDINA  LUSTRICA,  SAY.    Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol. 
ii.  p.  175. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  "conic;  whorls  slightly  wrinkled,  con- 
vex; suture  profoundly  indented;  aperture  oval, 
nearly  orbicular;  labrum  with  the  superior  edge 
not  appressed  to  the  preceding  whirl,  but  simply 
touching  it;  umbilicus  rather  large,  rounded. 

"Length  less  than  TV  inch. 

"Cabinet  of  the  Academy." 

"The  smallest  species  I  have  seen.*  The 
aperture  somewhat  resembles  that  of  a  Valvata, 
to  which  genus  it  may  probably  be  referrible. 
Mr.  Jessup  obtained  two  specimens  on  the 
shores  of  Cayuga  lake." — Say. 

*  But  one  of  the  two  specimens  referred  to  by  Say  is 
perfect,  and  may  be  seen  in  the  Cabinet  of  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia.  It  is  a  slender  pale  yel- 
lowish-brown shell,  having  four  volutions,  and  is  5  or  6 
millimetres  long.  It  is  closely  allied  to  A.  lapidaria,  of 
which  it  may  possibly  be  the  young. 


17 


AMNICOLA  GRANUM,  Say. 

A.  (LIMOS^E  affinis)  testa  minuta,  conica,  curta,  late  um- 
bilicata;  apertura  rotundata.  Long.  2  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
PALUDINA  GRANA,  SAY.  J.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  ii.  p.  378. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  "conic-ovate;  whorls  not  perceptibly 
wrinkled,  convex;  suture  deeply  impressed; 
aperture  orbicular,  hardly  angulated  above; 
labium  with  the  superior  edge  appressed  to  the 
surface  of  the  penultimate  volution;  umbilicus 
rather  small,  profound." 

"  This  very  small  species  is  found  in  plenty  in 
the  fish  ponds  at  Harrowgate,  [near  Philadel- 
phia,] crawling  on  the  dead  leaves  which  have 
fallen  to  the  bottom  of  the  water.  It  resembles 
P.  lustrica,  but  is  a  smaller,  less  elongated  shell, 
and  the  superior  portion  of  the  labium  is  not  an 
unaltered  continuation  of  the  lips  as  in  that 
shell,  but  is  appressed  to  the  surface  of  the 
penultimate  whorl  in  the  usual  manner  of  cal- 
careous deposition  upon  that  part." — Say. 

E    3 


18 


AMNICOLA  LAPIDARIA,  Say. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  10. 

A.  testa  elongata,  ochraceo-brunnea,  perforata;  apertura 
ovata,  subangulata;  labio  subarcuato,  in  anfractum  ultimum 
posito.  Long.  6  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
P.  LAPIDARIA,  SAY.     Nich.  Encyc.  3d  Am.  ed.  No.  2. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "not  so  long  as  the  shell,  pale;  head 
elongated  into  a  rostrum  as  long  as  the  tenta- 
cula,  and  emarginate  at  tip;  tentacula  2  filiform, 
acuminated  at  tip,  short;  eyes  prominent,  situ- 
ated at  the  external  or  posterior  base  of  the 
tentacula;  base  or  foot  of  the  animal  dilated, 
oval,  obtuse  before  and  behind." 

SHELL  "turreted,  subumbilicate,  with  6  volu- 
tions which  are  obsoletely  wrinkled  across; 
suture  impressed;  aperture  longitudinal  ovate 
orbicular,  operculated,  rather  more  than  one- 
third  the  length  of  the  shell.  Length  about  J 
inch." 


AMNICOLA  SAY  ANA.  19 

OBSERVATIONS. 

COLOR  pale  brown. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Appears  to  oc- 
cur both  east  and  west  of  the  Allegeny  moun- 
tains. 

"Found  under  stones,  &c.  in  moist  situations, 
on  the  margins  of  rivers.  Like  Lymnaea  and 
Planorbis,  this  animal  possesses  the  faculty  of 
crawling  on  the  surface  of  the  water  in  a  re- 
versed position,  the  shell  downward." — Say. 


AMNICOLA  SAYANA,  Anthony. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  11. 

A.  test£  elongatula,  umbilical,  ochracea,  nitida,  diaphana; 
anfractibus  6  cylindraceis;  apertura  rotunda,  labro  sub- 
appresso  in  parte  posteriori.  Long.  5  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

AMNICOLA  SAYANA,  ANTHONY.       In  letters. 

CVCLOSTOMA  CINCINNATIENSE,  LEA.    Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc. 
2nd  ser.,  vol.  viii.  p.  229,  pi.  6,  fig.  62. 


20  AMNICOLA  SAYANA. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  lengthened,  conic,  composed  of  6  very 
convex  shining  whirls;  suture  strongly  impress- 
ed; lines  of  growth  very  fine;  base  with  a  nar- 
row umbilic:  aperture  suborbicular;  the  labium 
slightly  flattened,  a  small  portion  of  it  in  con- 
tact with  the  body  whirl. 

COLOR  bright  yellowish-brown,  translucent. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  south- 
western Ohio. 

HABITS.  "It  is  found  on  wet  earth  and  roots 
of  trees  on  the  margin  of  a  small  stream  near 
Cincinnati." — Lea. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  handsome  species  was  sent  to  me  by 
Mr.  Anthony,  under  the  proposed  specific  name 
sayana,  which  I  have  adopted.  In  habit  it  ap- 
pears to  agree  with  lapidaria,  a  species  which 
Say's  description  justifies  us  in  referring  to  the 
genus  Amnicola. 


21 


AMNICOLA  NICLINIANA,  Lea. 

PLATE  1. — FIG.  12. 

A.  testa,  elongato-conica,  obscura,  subperforata,  aper- 
tura  pallida;  labio  subrectilineari,  appresso.   Long  3£  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  NICKLINIANA,  LEA.     Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol.  vi.  p.  92, 
pi.  23,  fig.  109. 


DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  slender  conic,  whirls  4,  convex;  aper- 
ture ovate,  labium  appressed  so  as  to  leave  a 
narrow  umbilical  fissure. 

COLOR  greenish,  covered  with  a  black  coating. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  the 
Warm  springs  of  Virginia. 


OBSERVATIONS. 


Figured  from  an  authentic  specimen  for  which 
I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Lea.  It  bears  a  very 
close  resemblance  to  the  young  of  the  next 
species. 


22 


AMNICOLA  ATTENUATA,  Hald. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  13. 

A  testa,  columnari,  vix  perforata,  sutura  profunda.  Long. 
7  mm. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

A.  ATTENUATA,  HALD.  J.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  viii.p.  200. 
DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  black. 

SHELL  unusually  long,  slender,  with  6  or  7 
obliquely  revolving,  very  convex  whirls,  sepa- 
rated by  a  deep  suture;  aperture  small,  ovate, 
with  the  peritreme  level  and  continuous;  labium 
in  contact  with  the  body  whirl,  leaving  scarcely 
any  perforation. 

COLOR  pale  green  beneath  an  extraneous  coat- 
ing of  black. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Taken  from  a 
spring  in  Montgomery  county,  Virginia,  con- 
nected with  Roanoke  river. 

I  am  not  confident  that  this  is  not  the  adult  of 
nicliniana,  as  there  is  a  very  close  resemblance 
between  that  shell  and  the  young  of  this  species 
when  it  has  but  4  volutions.  In  the  latter,  the 
aperture  appears  to  be  rather  contracted. 


23 


AMNICOLA  TENUIPES,  Cauper. 

PLATE  1.— FIGS.  14,  15. 

A.  testa  elongatula,  flavo-brunnea,  subperfbrata;  anfrac- 
tibus  5  planiusculis,  sutura  inconspicua,  apertura  ovata, 
labio  obsolete.  Long.  4  mm. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "with  the  head  proboscidiform,  sub- 
bifid,  subcylindrical;  foot  strap-shaped,  anterior 
portion  extending  laterally,  and  emarginate  be- 
fore: tentacles  setaceous;  eyes  at  the  external 
base  of  the  tentacles;  color,  except  the  head 
and  eyes,  mottled  white. 

SHELL  "  small,  H  lin.  long,  subumbilicated, 
oblong-ovate,  turreted,  thin,  smooth,  lines  of 
growth  very  slightly  marked;  color  light  brown; 
volutions  5,  suture  slightly  impressed:  aperture 
ovate,  oblong,  angulated  above,  rounded  at  base; 
labrum  simple,  sharp. 

HABITS.  "Found  in  the  rice-field  ditches  at 
Hopeton,  Georgia:  movement  active,  made  by 
the  joint  action  of  the  head  and  foot,  the  head 
advancing  before  the  foot:  floats  on  the  surface 
of  the  water  in  an  inverted  position." 


24  AMNICOLA  TENUIPES. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  above  account  of  a  very  interesting  spe- 
cies has  been  obligingly  furnished,  together  with 
a  drawing  of  the  animal,  by  J.  Hamilton  Couper, 
Esq.,  to  whose  exertions  science  is  much  in- 
debted. The  species  is  remarkable  for  having 
an  unusually  slender  foot. 

Amnicola  orbiculata,  Lea.  Proceed.  Am.  Phil.  Soc., 
ii.  34.  "Testa  orbicular!,  subtenui,  luteola,  laevi,  um- 
bilicata;  spira  brevi;  suturis  valde  impressis;  anfrac- 
tibus  quinis,  inflatis;  apertura  magna,  rotunda.  Hab. 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  Schuylkill?  near  Philadelphia." 

A.  parva,  Lea.  Ib.  "  Testa  obtuso-conica,  subtenui, 
luteola,  Isevi,  umbilicata;  spira  brevi;  suturis  impressis; 
anfractibus  quaternis,  inflatis;  apertura,  magna,  sub- 
rotunda.  Hab.  Springfield,  Ohio." 

A.  obtusa,  Lea.  (Paludina.)  Am.  Phil.  Tr.,  second 
series,  vol.  ix.  p.  13.  "Testa  subcylindracea,  subtenui, 
tenebroso-viridi,  laevi,  minute  perforata;  spira  brevi, 
ad  apicem  valde  obtusa;  suturis  impressis;  anfractibus 
quaternis,  convexis;  apertura  parva,  subrotunda.  Hab. 
Ohio.  Diam.  .07,  length  .10  of  an  inch." 

*^*  Several  errors  occur  in  the  names  upon  the  plate  of 
Amnicola  (lettered  from  recollection)  which  should  be  cor- 
rected. 


444 


4  4  4 


A 


i__3      A     f'lMOSiL,     S.       4     A      CINCINNATIENSIS,     A        5_6     A     •L-US-¥-AI.e^i.     S        T.     ^      PALLIDA,     H. 
8      yl      PORATA.      S  9     ^      GALBANA.     H  10      ^      CAPIDARIA,      S  11.    ^.     S^KIW^,      H 

12     4     NICKLINIANA.      Lea  13     ^     ELONGATA.     H  H_15      ^      TENUIPES,      CoTJJ>BT- 


HelaiL  E  Lawson.  3el  et  col  Alex  Larson  Sc 


GENUS  PALUDINA,  Lamarck. 
PLATE  1. — FIG.  1. 

Testa  conoidea:  apertura  Integra,  ovata:  anfractibus  con- 
vexis:  marginibus  connexis,  acutis:  operculum  corneum. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

HELIX,  LINNAEUS,  GMELIN,  DILLWIN. 

TURBO.    BUCCINUM.     VIVIPARA.     CYCLOSTOMA. 

NERITA,  MULLER,  SCHROTER. 

BULIMUS,  (BULINUS,)  PoiRET. 

PALUDINA,  LAMARCK.     An.  sans  Vert.,  vol.  viii.  p.  509. 

„  SOWERBY.     Genera  of  Shells. 

CUVIER.     An.  du  Mus.,  vol.  xi.  p.  170 — Memoires  pour 

servir  a  L'Histoire  et  a  L'Anatomie  des  Mollusques. 

Anno  1817. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  with  the  head  short  and  truncated, 
extending  a  little  beyond  the  shell:  rostrum 
very  small:  mouth  terminal,  furnished  with  two 
lateral  jaws:  tentacles  slender  and  subulate, 
the  eyes  situated  upon  an  enlargement  of  their 

Fl 


2  PALUDINA. 

external  base:  the  foot  is  a  thin  broad  lingui- 
form  disk,  longer  than  the  shell,  much  extended 
anteriorly,  and  bearing  an  opercle  upon  its 
upper  posterior  surface:  mantle  simple. 

SHELL  conoid,  whirls  convex,  modifying  the 
spiral  cavity:  aperture  ovate  or  subrotund, 
widest  anteriorly,  the  margins  united,  sharp, 
and  never  reflected:  aperture  closed  with  a  thin 
corneous  opercle,  of  which  the  lines  of  increase 
are  generally  concentric. 

EXAMPLE.     Paludina  decisa.* 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"The  name  of  the  genus  was  adopted  by 
Lamarck,  from  Bruguiere,  but  Montfort  applied 
to  it  the  name  of  Viviparus,  which  is  retained 
by  Blainville  in  his  plate,  though  in  the  text  he 
adopts  that  of  Paludina." — Say.  As  Lamarck 
was  the  first  to  perceive  and  define  the  natural 
limits  of  the  genus,  as  characterized  by  him, 
he  must  be  cited  as  authority  for  it. 

*  This  species  is  chosen  as  an  example  of  the  genus, 
because  the  accompanying  description  of  the  animal  has 
been  drawn  principally  from  it.  This  mode  will  be  pursued 
with  the  subsequent  genera,  when  reference  to  the  entire 
animals  of  typical  species  cannot  be  made. 


PALUDINA. 


The  animals  of  this  genus  are  of  sluggish 
habits;  they  feed  upon  living  or  decayed  vege- 
table matter,  and  respire  water,  in  which  they 
live  entirely,  generally  preferring  a  bottom  of 
soft  mud,  upon  which  they  are  well  adapted  for 
progression,  on  account  of  the  great  extent  and 
flexibility  of  the  foot.  Its  extension  in  front 
prevents  them  from  taking  food,  except  when 
at  rest.  They  prefer  nearly  stagnant  waters, 
or  rivers  with  sluggish  currents.  The  Paludinse 
are  viviparous,  depositing  the  young  in  the 
spring,  which  have  lain  in  the  ovaries  during 
the  winter.  The  sexes  are  said  to  be  distinct. 
The  genus  is  here  restricted  by  the  omission 
of  the  small  oviparous  species,*  with  subspiral 
opercles,  and  the  foot  short  anteriorly. 

The  shells  of  some  species  make  so  near  an 
approach  to  those  of  certain  Ampullarise,  that 
it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  them.  In  this  case, 
an  aperture  narrowed  posteriorly,  and  a  length- 
ened spire,  will  generally  indicate  the  genus 
Paludina  sufficiently  for  ordinary  purposes. 

*  As  P.  lustrica,  Say,  which  is  the  type  of  a  new  genus, 
(AMNICOLA,  Gould  and  Hal.)  suggested  by  Dr.  Gould. 


PALUDINA  DECISA,  Say. 

PLATE  1. 

P.  testa  ventricoso-conica,  tenui,  pallide  virente,  laevi- 
gata:  spira  elongata,  apice  obtusa:  anfractibus  valde  con- 
vexis:  apertura  subovata,  postice  angulata:  sutura  valde 
impressa. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LISTER,  Conch.,  pi.  cxxvii.  fig.  27.     Cochlea  virginiana  e 

flavo  viridescens,  non  fasciata. 
PETIVER,  Gazophyl.,  pi.  cvi.  fig.  18. 
P.  DECISA)  SAY.    Nich.  Encyc.,  (Amer.  ed.,)  art.  Conch., 

pi.  ii.  fig.  6.     Anno  1818. — Am.  Conch.,  pi.  x.  fig.  1. 
CHEMNITZ,  vol.  ix.,  pi.  cxxxii.  fig.  1184.? 
VALENCIENNES.     Receuil  d'Obs.  de  Zool.,  par  Humb.  et 

Bonpl.,  vol.  ii.  p.  253.     P.  limosa,  Say.     P.  CORNEA,  1 

VAL.  op.  cit. 
DESHAYES   in  Lam.,  vol.  viii.  p.   516,  an  P.   ponderosa 

junior  ? 

P.  HETEROSTROPHA,  KlRTLAND.     Ohio  Geol.  Rep.,  p.  200. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  light  cream-yellow,  or  bluish,  marked 
with  numerous  orange  spots  upon  the  head, 
tentacles,  and  foot;  the  under  surface  of  the 


PALUDINA  DECISA.  D 

last  more  finely  dotted:  tentacles  dark  above; 
eyes  black  and  conspicuous:  foot  translucent, 
very  large  anteriorly,  ending  square,  but  slightly 
emarginate  in  the  centre:  rostrum  small,  and 
scarcely  projected  beyond  the  edge  of  the  shell. 
The  centre  of  the  under  surface  of  the  foot  is 
marked  with  light  reticulated  lines,  which  are 
radiated  towards  the  edges. 

SHELL  thin,  subconic,  and  polished,  with  six 
convex  whirls:  spire  lengthened,  having  the 
apex  rounded:  aperture  wide  and  pyriform; 
labrum  meeting  the  body  whirl  at  an  angle: 
suture  deep:  lines  of  growth  very  fine:  spiral 
striae  minute  or  obsolete. 

COLOR  of  the  shell  bright  green,  or  yellowish- 
green;  inside  bluish-white. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  The  streams 
of  New  Jersey,  the  Delaware,  Schuylkill,  and 
rarely,  the  Susquehanna.  Common  throughout 
New  England,  Dr.  A.  A.  Gould.  Ohio,  J.  G. 
Anthony.  "The  species  is  very  common  in 
various  parts  of  the  Union," — Say.  Dr.  Wm. 
Blanding  has  given  me  specimens  which  he 
collected  from  the  Mississippi  in  Iowa  Terri- 
tory, and  from  Fox  river,  between  Galena  and 
Chicago.  It  occurs  in  the  Nolachucky  and 


O  PALUDINA  DECISA. 

Tennessee  rivers,  on  the  south  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan,  and  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor  brought  speci- 
mens from  the  "Four  Lakes"  of  the  North-west 
Territory. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  quite  young  have  a  very  low  spire,  a 
globular  form,  and  the  aperture  very  wide, 
nearly  equalling  half  the  entire  lower  surface 
in  area.  The  soft  parts  are  semitransparent, 
without  any  orange  spots.  The  young  are  ex- 
cluded in  March,  when  the  shells  are  0.14  or 
0.15  of  an  inch  in  length,  composed  of  rather 
less  than  three  entire  whirls.  In  autumn,  pre- 
vious to  the  sinking  of  the  animals  into  the 
mud  to  hybernate,  the  ovaries  of  the  female 
(extending  within  the  apex  of  the  shell)  will  be 
found  to  contain  many  young,  apparently  in  as 
perfect  a  state  as  when  excluded  in  the  spring. 

Dr.  Gould  (MS.)  states  that  the  shell  is 
bristled  with  filaments,  which  are  visible  when 
in  the  water;  particularly  upon  half  grown  indi- 
viduals. 

Deshayes  does  not  admit  this  species  in  his 
edition  of  Lamarck,  but  places  the  name  (with 
a  question)  among  the  synonyms  of  P.  ponde- 


PALUDINA  DECISA.  7 

rosa.  It  must  be  confessed  that  the  two  are 
nearly  allied,  but  I  think  it  would  be  immature 
to  unite  them  until  a  complete  series  of  the 
shells  of  both  could  be  shown,  which  would 
indicate  the  passage  of  the  adult  of  one  into 
that  of  the  other  species.  P.  decisa  has  a 
thinner  shell  and  narrower  aperture;  nor  are 
the  lines  of  growth  so  suddenly  recurvent  as  in 
P.  ponderosa.  The  young  have  a  near  resem- 
blance, but  the  larger  the  decisa  grows  the  less 
is  the  resemblance  apparent. 

Valenciennes  cites  Say's  description  of  P. 
limosa  (Journal  of  the  Academy,  vol.  i.  p.  125) 
for  this  species;  and,  leaving  size  out  of  the 
question,  descriptions  of  the  two  shells  would 
very  nearly  correspond.  M.  Valenciennes'  spe- 
cimens are  about  an  inch  in  length,  the  truo 
limosa  being  no  longer  than  0.15  of  an  inch. 

This  species  has  been  found  heterostrophe 
in  Ohio,  the  Delaware,  and  in  Vermont;  and 
upon  this  variety  Professor  Kirtland  has  found- 
ed his  species. 

REFERENCE  TO  PLATE  1. 

Fig.  1  represents  an  animal  from  the  Susquehanna, 
where  the  shells  are  shorter  than  usual.  Fig.  2  is  taken 


8  PALUDINA  SUBCARINATA. 

from  a  Schuylkill  shell,  of  which  a  represents  the  opercle. 
Fig.  3  is  from  a  Massachusetts  specimen.  Fig.  4  is  from 
a  reversed  Ohio  specimen  in  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Lea. 
Figs.  5  and  6  represent  the  young  of  different  ages. 


PALUDINA  SUBCARINATA,  Say. 

PLATE  2. 

P.  testa  elongata,  tenui,  apice  acutissima,  (interdum 
erosa,)  pallide  fusco-virente:  anfractibus  quinis  vel  senis, 
valde  convexis,  transversim  striata:  sutura  valde  impressa: 
apertura  ovata,  postice  rotundata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  SUBCARINATA,  SAY.     Nich.  Encyc.,  (Amer.  ed.)  art. 

Conch.,  pi.  i.  fig.  7. 
P.  CARINATA,  VALEN.     Rec.  d'Obs.  de  Zool.,  par  Humb. 

et  Bonpl. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  with  the  foot  translucent,  the  sides 
parallel,  the  front  truncated,  and  the  posterior 
extremity  obtusely  rounded.  The  general  co- 
lour is  dark  grey,  dotted  with  light  orange. 

SHELL  conoid,  elongated,  thin  and  translu- 


PALUDINA  SUBCARINATA. 

cent,  with  from  four  to  six  ventricose  volutions, 
which  are  covered  with  numerous  fine  trans- 
verse elevated  striae:  apex  pointed:  suture  deeply 
impressed  and  canaliculate:  aperture  regularly 
ovate,  rounded  posteriorly:  peristome  entire. 
The  later  additions  of  the  opercle  are  concen- 
tric, whilst  the  centre  is  subspiral. 

COLOR  of  the  outside  very  light  brownish- 
green;  inside  bluish-white. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  in  the 
Delaware,  Schuylkill,  and  Susquehanna  rivers: 
near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  J.  G.  Anthony. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  species  is  closely  allied  to  the  preced- 
ing, both  in  external  form  and  general  habits, 
so  that  the  natural  history  of  one  is  that  of  the 
other.  The  shell  may  be  distinguished  from 
that  of  P.  decisa  by  the  subrotund  aperture, 
pointed  apex,  elevated  striae,  and  dull  exterior. 
Those  inhabiting  running  waters  have  the  shell 
thick  and  opaque,  with  the  apex  eroded.  The 
orange  spots  upon  the  animal  are  lighter  and 
smaller  than  in  the  preceding  species. 

The  young,  when  first  excluded  throughout 
the  spring  and  summer,  are  spirally  striated, 

F   2 


10  PALUDINA  INTEGRA. 

and  have  less  than  three  complete  whirls.  The 
shell  is  more  lengthened  and  much  less  ventri- 
cose  than  the  young  of  P.  decisa. 

REFERENCE  TO  PLATE  2. 

Figs.  1  and  2  represent  a  very  large  individual,  of  which 
la  is  the  opercle.  Figs.  3  and  4  are  views  of  a  more 
characteristic  specimen.  Fig.  5  is  the  very  young. 


PALUDINA  INTEGRA,  Say. 

PLATE  3. 

P.  testa  elongata,  fusca  vel  olivacea:  anfractibus  quinis 
vel  senis,  convexis:  sutura  valde  impressa:  apertura  inte- 
gra,  postice  obtusa  vel  rotundata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
P.  INTEGRA,  SAY.     Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  ii.  p.  174, 

DESCRIPTION. 

"SHELL  olivaceous,  pale,  conic:  whirls  six, 
wrinkled  across:  spire  rather  elongated,  entire 
at  the  apex:  suture  profoundly  indented:  aper- 
ture sub-ovate,  less  than  half  the  length  of  the 
shell."— Say. 


PALUDINA  INTEGRA.  11 

"Inhabits  the  waters  of  the  Missouri. 

"Length  1-4  of  an  inch.     [1.4  in.?  or  1}  in.?] 

"Very  much  resembles  P.  decisa;  the  spire, 
however,  is  more  elongated,  and  never  trun- 
cated at  the  apex,  but  always  acute." — Say. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  the 
Santee  canal,  South  Carolina,  (fig.  3,)  T.  A. 
Conrad:  Ohio,  (figs.  1,  2,)  J.  G.  Anthony:  the 
Mississippi,  in  Iowa  Territory,  (fig.  4,)  Dr.  W. 
Blanding. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

I  have  made  use  of  Say's  description  and 
remarks,  as  this  is  a  species  ?  about  which  there 
is  some  uncertainty.  The  shells  here  figured 
are  generally  received  as  P.  integra,  although 
every  one  must  have  remarked  the  discrepancy 
between  their  size  and  that  given  above.  Mr. 
Say's  time,  however,  was  too  valuable  to  be 
spent  in  searching  for  large  specimens;  we 
accordingly  find  that  he  described  his  Paludina 
subcarinata  from  a  specimen  having  three 
whirls;  and  figured  Melania  virginica  from  one 
with  but  five;  whilst  good  specimens  of  both 
shells  have  just  twice  the  number  of  whirls 
given.  It  is  possible  that  the  size,  as  given  in 


12  PALUDINA  INTEGRA. 

the   original   description,   is   a    typographical 
error. 

This  may  be  a  variety  of  P.  decisa;  but  as 
the  characters  appear  to  be  constant,  it  may 
stand  as  a  species  until  a  more  extended  exa- 
mination of  specimens  can  be  made.  Deshayes 
has  truly  remarked,  that  specific  distinctions 
exist,  not  so  much  in  the  distinctness,  as  in  the 
permanency  of  the  characters;  and  that  it  is 
sometimes  necessary  to  make  extensive  com- 
parisons before  just  decisions  can  be  made.* 

REFERENCE  TO  PLATE  3. 

Figs.  2  and  3  represent  a  very  large  individual;  1  is  the 
usual  size  and  appearance;  4,  a  strongly  marked  variety; 
5,  the  young;  and  «,  an  opercle. 

*  His  words  are — "il  faut,  pour  eviter  une  autre  source 
d'erreurs,  avoir  a  sa  disposition  une  collection  tres  con- 
siderable par  le  nombre  des  especes  et  celui  des  individus 
appartenant  a  chacune  d'elles,  la  valeur  d'un  caractere 
specifique  residant  plutot  dans  sa  Constance,  malgre  sa 
faiblesse,  que  dans  sa  grandeur,  et  cette  Constance  ne  peut 
etre  constatee  que  par  1'examen  d'un  grand  nombre  d'indi- 
vidus  provenant  de  localites  diverses." — Lam.  An.  sans 
Vert.,  torn.  vii.  p.  329.  Anno  1836. 


13 


PALUDINA  PONDEROSA,  Say. 

PLATE  4. 

P.  testa  ponderosa,  subconica,  laevigata;  striis  transversis 
minutissime  corrugatis:  apice  obtusa:  anfractibus  convexis: 
sutura  valde  impressa:  lineis  longitudinalibus  recurvatis: 
apertura  ovato-oblonga. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  PONDEROSA,  SAY.    Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.,  vol.  ii.  p.  173. 

„  „        Amer.  Conchology,  pi.  30,  fig.  1. 

SOWERBY'S  Genera  of  Shells,  fig.  2. 
DESHAYES'  LAMARCK,  vol.  viii.  p.  516. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  ponderous,  subconic,  and  polished, 
having  from  six  to  seven  complete  whirls:  spire 
lengthened:  suture  deeply  impressed,  and  ca- 
naliculate: aperture  oblong  ovate,  narrowed 
and  rounded  posteriorly:  labium  thickened,  and 
conspicuous:  lines  of  growth  undeviating  until 
near  their  anterior  extremity,  where  they  are 
recurvent;  labrum  much  advanced  at  this  part: 
surface  with  very  fine  transverse  wavy  strise, 


14  PALUDINA  PONDEROSA. 

and  occasionally  banded  with  colors  a  little 
lighter  or  darker  than  that  of  the  general  sur- 
face: opercle  thin,  oblong  ovate,  with  the  lines 
of  growth  concentric. 

COLOR  of  the  shell  light  green  (when  young) 
to  dark  olivaceous  externally,  and  bluish-white 
within. 

VARIETY  A.  The  shell  does  not  exceed  an 
inch  in  length;  the  transverse  wavy  striae  are 
obsolete;  the  spire  is  low,  and  truncate-eroded, 
and  the  labium  very  much  thickened  posteriorly. 
Specimens  were  given  to  me  by  Mr.  Conrad, 
who  found  them  in  the  Alabama  river. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  This,  the  larg- 
est of  our  species,  inhabits  the  Wabash,  Ohio, 
and  other  western  rivers.  "Paludina  ponderosa 
seems  a  common  inhabitant  of  all  the  rivers  of 
the  west,  from  the  northern  districts  of  Indiana 
and  Illinois,  to  the  waters  of  the  Tennessee 
valley." — Conrad,  New  Fresh  Water  Shells, 
p.  12. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Deshayes  thinks  this  species  might  as  well 
be  placed  in  the  genus  Ampullaria,  whilst  Say 
believed  it  to  be  allied  to  Melania.  "On  pour- 


PALUDINA  GENICULA.  15 

rait  aussi  bien  placer  cette  coquille  parmi  les 
Ampullaires  que  parmi  les  Paludines,  son  ou- 
verture  se  trouvant  plus  allongee  et  plus  etroite 
que  dans  la  plupart  des  especes  de  ce  dernier 
genre." — Deshayes.  I  regret  that  I  am  unable 
to  give  a  figure,  or  at  least  a  description  of 
the  animal,  of  this  fine  species. 

REFERENCE  TO  PLATE  4. 

The  inferior  surface  of  two  shells,  an  opercle,  and  the 
very  young  are  represented.  The  specimens  figured  are 
not  of  the  largest  size. 


PALUDINA  GENICULA,  Conrad. 

PLATE  5. 

P.  testa  subovalis,  spira  elongata:  anfractibus  quaternis 
scalariformis,  postice  angulatis. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 
P.  GENICULA,  CON.     N.  F.  w.  Shells,  p.  48,  pi.  8,  fig.  3. 
DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  suboval,  composed  of  four  scalariform 
whirls,  which  are  angulated  posteriorly:  spire 


16  PALUDINA  GENICULA. 

elevated,  diminishing  rapidly:  apex  obtuse:  lines 
of  growth  fine  and  distinctly  marked:  surface 
polished:  aperture  more  than  half  the  length  of 
the  shell.  The  opercle  has  the  lines  of  accre- 
tion concentric. 

COLOR  of  the  shell  greenish;  aperture  bluish. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

A  single  shell  of  this  species  was  found  by 
Mr.  Conrad  in  Flint  river,  Georgia.  This  unique 
specimen  is  now  in  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Poulson. 

REFERENCE  TO  PLATE  5. 

Figures  1  and  2  are  views  of  the  upper  and  lower  sur- 
faces of  the  shell,  of  which  a  represents  the  opercle.  The 
latter,  it  will  be  observed,  had  been  broken,  and  was  sub- 
sequently repaired  by  the  animal. 


17 


PALUDINA  VIVIPARA,  Lin. 

PLATE  6. 

P.  testa  ventricosa,  subperforata,  tenui,  subdiaphana, 
fusco-virente:  anfractibus  quinis,  convexis:  spira  elongata, 
apice  obtuso:  fasciis  transversis  fusco-rubris:  sutura  valde 
impressa:  apertura  rotundata,  intus  transversim  fasciata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

LISTER,  Conch.,  pi.  cxxvi.  fig.  26. 
HELIX  VIVIPARA,  LINN.EUS,  GMELIN,  p.  3646,  No.  105. 
NERITA  VIVIPARA,  MULLER.     Vermes,  p.  182,  No.  370. 
CHEMNITZ,  vol.  ix.,  pi.  cxxxii.  fig.  1180,  1181. 
PALUDINA  VIVIPARA,  LAMARCK.   An.  sans  Vert.,  vol.  viii. 

p.  511. 
SAY,  Nich.  Encyc.  (Amer.  ed.)  art.  Conch.,  pi.  ii.  fig.  5. 

"    American  Conchology,  pi.  x.  the  two  side  figures. 
P.  LINEATA,  VALENCIENNES.     Rec.  d'Obs.  de  Zool.,  etc., 

par  Humboldt  et  Bonpland,  vol.  ii.  p.  255. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  subconic,  ventricose,  thin,  and  slightly 
translucent;  with  five  inflated  volutions:  there 
are  several  reddish  bands  visible  within  and 

F3 


18  PALUDINA  VIVIPARA. 

without:  spire  lengthened,  apex  scarcely  round- 
ed, suture  deeply  impressed:  aperture  sub- 
rotund. 

COLOR  of  the  outside  greenish,  or  brown;  of 
the  inside,  whitish. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Say's  speci- 
mens were  obtained  from  the  St.  John's  river 
in  Florida;  Mrs.  Say  has  sent  me  specimens 
from  the  Wabash,  and  Mr.  Conrad  from  near 
Tuscambia,  Alabama;  Mr.  Anthony  has  been 
informed  of  its  existence  near  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, and  in  Michigan:  Valenciennes'  speci- 
mens are  from  Lake  Erie:  Cuba  is  given  as 
the  locality  of  a  specimen  in  the  cabinet  of  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  is  one  of  the  very  few  species  common 
to  Europe  and  North  America.  A  comparison 
of  the  soft  parts  may  be  necessary  to  prove 
those  found  on  different  sides  of  the  Atlantic  to 
be  identical;  but  where  there  is  not  a  sufficient 
difference  in  the  shells  to  establish  varieties,  it 
is  not  probable  that  the  soft  parts  would  pre- 
sent distinctive  specific  characters. 

Deshayes  does  not  cite  Say's  figures  among 


PALUDINA  VIVIPARA.  19 

the  great  number  of  synonyms  which  he  has 
added  to  those  of  Lamarck;  thinking  perhaps 
that  this  might  be  a  distinct  species.  He  had 
access  to  the  American  Conchology,  as  he 
admits  several  species  from  it,  and  cites  a 
figure  from  the  same  plate  upon  which  P. 
vivipara  stands. 

Being  the  first  Paludina  known  to  naturalists; 
the  fact  that  it  is  viviparous  attracted  early 
attention,  and  became  the  foundation  of  its 
specific  name.  I  believe  every  species  of  true 
Paludina  will  be  found  to  be  viviparous  (or  ovo- 
viviparous)  and  know  of  eight  distinct  species 
which  are. 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  6. 

Fig.  la  represents  the  opercle  belonging  to  1  and  2, 
(from  the  Wabash);  fig.  6  is  the  natural  size  of  a  young 
shell  taken  from  the  former,  which  had  been  dried  with 
the  animal  enclosed;  fig.  5  is  a  thin  light  coloured  half- 
grown  shell  from  Alabama;  and  figs.  3  and  4  a  variety  with 
a  lengthened  spire,  copied  from  Say's  figure,  the  original 
specimen  being  probably  from  Florida.  The  shells  from 
the  Wabash  have  a  smaller  and  more  circular  aperture 
than  those  from  the  South;  and  the  half-grown  have  a 
greater  resemblance  to  the  adult  in  form  and  color. 

I  have  cited  Linna3us  as  authority  for  the  preceding 
species,  because  he  was  the  first  to  describe  it  under  the 


20  PALUDINA  VIVIPARA. 

adopted  specific  name.  The  author  who  institutes  and 
names  a  species,  should  always  be  cited  as  the  earliest 
authority  for  it,  under  whatever  genus  or  other  division  it 
may  be  placed  by  later  systematists.  Species  are  perma- 
nent, but  other  divisions  must  be  modified  from  time  to 
time,  as  opportunities  to  gain  the  requisite  information 
occur;  and  it  appears  to  be  a  gross  act  of  injustice  to  the 
earlier  zoologists,  to  leave  them  nothing  for  their  labors, 
because  they  could  not  take  advantage  of  information  ac- 
quired after  their  time.  One  author  thinks  he  does  ample 
justice  to  his  predecessor,  by  citing  him  among  the 
synonyms;  but  here  he  should  place  his  own  name,  if  he 
thinks  it  sufficiently  important  to  occupy  a  place,  merely 
because  he  has  the  very  trifling  merit  of  placing  a  well 
known  animal  or  plant  in  its  appropriate  modern  genus. 
In  some  works,  but  few  synonyms  are  cited,  and  in  such, 
the  founder  of  a  species  might  be  omitted  entirely.  It  is 
true,  that  Linnaeus  never  described  a  shell  under  the  name 
of  Paludina;  but  he  specified  one  as  vivipara;  and  no  one 
would  suppose  that  he  formed  the  genus,  should  his  name 
be  placed  after  the  species,  so  that  there  would  not  be  a 
cause  of  error.  On  the  contrary,  when  we  find  a  modern 
author  citing  himself  incidentally,  (for  a  European  bird, 
for  instance,)  we  might  be  led  to  wonder,  why  a  species 
had  remained  so  long  uncharacterized.  Thus,  besides  de- 
priving us  of  the  power  to  know  whether  a  species  has 
been  long  known,  or  recently  described;  there  is  a  source 
of  error  laid  open,  which  could  scarcely  exist,  if  the  juster 
course  were  pursued.  This  is  subject  to  no  abuses,  whilst 
the  self-appropriating  system  affords  every  facility  for  acts 
of  injustice.  Unnecessary  divisions  are  made,  apparently 


PALUDINA  VIVIPARA.  21 

with  no  other  object;  and  the  pretender,  who  wishes  to  be 
cited  as  the  authority  for  placing  certain  species  in  certain 
genera,  has  only  to  prowl  over  the  works  of  naturalists  of 
high  standing,  until  he  finds  something  which  will  answer 
his  purpose.  Thus  he  may  discover  that  Paludina  dissi- 
milis  is  an  Anculosa — pretend  that  the  genus  Exogyra  is 
untenable,  (which  will  enable  him  to  place  Ostrea  or  Chama 
before,  and  his  own  name  after,  all  the  species) — or  that  of 
the  synonyms  Lytta  and  Cantharis,  (the  former  being  pre- 
ferred by  the  Germans,  the  latter  by  English  entomolo- 
gists,) Say  chose  the  worst  for  his  L.  Nuttalli,  which  can 
accordingly  be  changed  to  Cantharis  Nuttalli;  or,  all  the 
species  of  Cantharis  may  be  changed  back  to  Lytta,  with- 
out the  trouble  of  going  to  "the  base  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains" for  species. 

The  various  changes  in  nomenclature  can  be  placed  with 
propriety  only  in  the  list  of  synonyms,  and  it  is  giving 
what  is  not  wanted,  to  place  the  name  of  him  who  has 
done  the  least  for  a  species,  after  it;  instead  of  his,  to  whom 
we  owe  it;  especially  when  it  is  mentioned  incidentally, 
without  immediate  reference  to  the  original  synonym. 
It  is  better  to  have  a  single  original  authority  for  a  species, 
cited  throughout  all  works,  than  to  have  a  different  one  for 
every  author  who  chooses  to  publish  upon  it.  An  interme- 
diate plan  might  be  adopted,  which  would  place  "of 
authors,"  (Auc.)  after  species  like  the  above;  or  to  cite  the 
original  authority  with  the  later  one,  thus:  Paludina  vivi- 
para,  Lin.,  Lam.  I  might  cite  authorities  for  my  own  views, 
but  they  are  divided;  the  majority  perhaps,  holding  oppo- 
site opinions;  (as  many  of  them  are  more  or  less  interested 


22  PALUDINA  VIVIPARA. 

in  the  appropriating  system;)  but  injustice  should  not  be 
sanctioned  on  any  authority. 

Could  the  good  old  Swede  have  foreseen  the  havoc 
destined  to  be  made  among  his  species,  he  would  certainly 
have  placed  the  founders  of  the  modern  credit  system 
among  his  Damnati.  Thus  in  the  dismemberment  of  the 
Simiadse,  not  a  single  genus  was  left  under  his  appropriate 
name,  Simia;  and  all  the  species  were  transferred,  as  a 
matter  of  course.* 

The  original  spirit  of  all  this  is  a  desire  to  be  credited 
with  something,  however  trifling;  and  as  original  research 
is  difficult,  some  method  had  to  be  devised  to  abstract  from 
the  well  filled  stores  of  the  older  authors;  and  in  such  a 
manner  as  not  to  excite  suspicion;  just  as  influential  crimi- 
nals who  undergo  a  regular  trial,  are  sometimes  set  free 
by  a  preconcerted  "flaw  in  the  indictment."  The  pro- 
ceedings, in  both  cases,  have  an  appearance  of  justice,  but 
nothing  more.  The  original  author  loses  his  species, 
whilst  the  act  of  his  successor  is  about  as  creditable  as  the 
productions  of  those  painters  who,  according  to  Reynolds, 
"if  they  have  a  history  or  a  family  piece  to  paint,  the  first 
thing  they  do  is  to  look  over  their  common-place  book, 
containing  sketches  which  they  have  stolen  from  various 
pictures;  then  they  search  their  prints  over  and  pilfer  one 

*  It  is  conceded  by  all,  that  the  Nerita  urcea  of  Miiller,  (subse- 
quently named  Ampullaria  rugosa  by  Lamarck,)  should  be  called 
Ampullaria  urcea;  and  as  Lamarck  cites  Miiller's  name  as  a 
synonym,  no  one  can  claim  the  discovery  of  the  identity  of  the 
two:  we  accordingly  find  that  no  author  has  ventured  to  give  him- 
self as  authority  for  the  species. 


PALUDINA  GEORGIANA.  23 

figure  from  one  print,  and  another  from  a  second,"  which 
(he  might  have  added)  enables  them  to  get  their  names 
into  the  catalogues,  whilst  not  a  thought  is  bestowed  on 
those  to  whom  the  originals  owe  their  existence. 


PALUDINA  GEORGIANA,  Lea. 

PLATE  7. — FIGS.  1,  2. 

P.  testa  elongata,  ventricosa,  anfractibus  quaternis  vel 
quinis,  convexis:  sutura  impressa:  apertura  rotundata, 
postice  angulata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  GEORGIANA,  LEA.     Transactions  of  the  Am.  Phil.  Soc., 
new  series,  vol.  v.  p.  116,  pi.  xix.  fig.  85. 

- 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  elongated,  ventricose,  thin  and  smooth; 
with  four  or  five  convex  volutions:  suture  deep, 
and  well  marked:  aperture  nearly  round,  angu- 
lated  posteriorly. 

COLOR  of  the  outside  green,  inside  whitish. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  as  yet 
only  at  Hopeton,  near  Darien,  Georgia. — Lea. 


24  PALUDINA  BENGALENSIS. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  species  is  most  nearly  allied  to  P. 
decisa,  Say;  from  which  it  may  be  distinguish- 
ed by  the  subrotund  aperture;  and  from  P.  vivi- 
para,  by  the  want  of  the  rufous  bands.  That 
it  is  a  distinct  species,  I  have  not  the  least 
doubt.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Lea  for  the  use  of 
his  original  specimen  to  figure  and  describe. 


PALUDINA  BENGALENSIS,  Lam. 

PLATE  7.— FIGS.  3,  4. 

P.  testa  conica,   tenui,   acuta,   pallide   virente,    trans- 
versim  fusco-lineata:  apertura  subrotundata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  BENGALENSIS,  LAM.     An.  sans  vert.,  vol.  viii.  p.  513. 
P.  FASCIATA,  BOWD.     Elem.  of  Conch.,  pi.  ix.  fig.  15.* 
DESHAYES  Encyc.  Meth.  vers,  vol.  iii.  p.  691,  No.  3.* 
"         Voy.  aux  Ind.  par  Bel.  Zool.,  p.  419,  No.  9,  pi. 

i.  figs.  14, 15.* 
P.  ELONGATA,  SwAiNsoN.     Zool.  illustr.,  first  series,  pi. 

xcviii.  Anno  1821 — 2.  Not  the  P.  elongata  of  Sowerby. 
P.  MULTILINEATA,  SAY.    Disseminator,  Aug.  12th,  1829. 

p.  245.     Mrs.  Say's  reprint,  p.  21. 

*  Cited  by  Deshayes. 


PALUDINA  BENGALENSIS.  25 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  lengthened,  conic,  and  polished;  com- 
posed of  six  or  seven  convex  whirls,  the  sur- 
face of  which  is  covered  with  minute  transverse 
wrinkles,  and  numerous  narrow  spiral  bands: 
apex  pointed;  suture  deep;  lines  of  accretion 
very  fine;  aperture  regularly  rounded,  produced 
posteriorly. 

COLOR  light  green,  often  passing  into  brown- 
ish; the  spiral  bands  are  fuscous,  and  the  inside 
white. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"Captain  Leconte  presented  me  with  a  shell 
which,  he  informed  me,  he  found  in  the  river 
St.  John,  Florida.  I  described  it  nearly  four 
years  since  under  the  name  of  multilineata;  but 
recently,  being  about  to  publish  it,  on  a  more 
attentive  examination  and  comparison  with  a 
specimen  of  the  elongata  from  Calcutta,  I  have 
concluded  that  it  varies  from  that  specimen 
only  in  having  the  umbilicus  a  little  smaller." 
—Say. 

The  shell  figured  is  in  the  collection  of  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  where  it  was 

F  4 


26  PALUDINA  BENGALENSIS. 

placed  by  Mrs.  Say.  There  appears  to  be  no 
reason  to  doubt  the  locality  of  this  specimen; 
at  any  rate,  Say  was  satisfied  upon  this  point, 
and  I  accordingly  admit  it  as  indigenous,  upon 
his  authority.  I  have  compared  the  original 
specimen  with  shells  from  Calcutta,  and  find 
that  it  differs  as  little  from  them,  as  they  do 
from  each  other.  It  is  smaller  than  the  foreign 
specimens,  but  I  think  a  larger  native  shell  was 
mislaid,  or  placed  accidentally  among  the 
foreign  ones,  in  the  same  collection;  so  that, 
rather  than  commit  an  error,  I  have  chosen 
the  reputed  American  example  for  my  illustra- 
tion. If  this  is  not  the  Bengalensis  of  La- 
marck, it  must  have  the  name  given  to  it  by 
Say;  that  of  Swainson  having  been  previously 
given  to  a  fossil  species. 


PALUDINA  CARINATA,  Val 

PLATE  8. 

P.  "testa  conoidea,  tenui,  subdiaphana,  viridi;  anfrac- 
tibus  quinis,  longitudinaliter  striatis,  et  transversim  cari- 
natis." — VaL 


PALUDINA  CARINATA.  27 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

PALUDINA  CARINATA,  VALENCIENNES,  in  Rec.  d'Obs.  de 
Zoologie,  &c.,  par  Humboldt  et  Bonpland,  vol.  ii.  p. 
252,  pi.  Ivi.  fig.  2,  a,  b. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  conoid  subdiaphanous  and  slightly 
umbilicated;  having  five  convex  turns  which 
are  longitudinally  striated,  and  transversely 
carinated,  with  four  elevated  lines,  of  which 
the  first  and  third  are  larger  than  the  second 
and  fourth:  aperture  angulated  posteriorly, 
nearly  circular,  but  having  the  longitudinal 
greater  than  the  transverse  diameter;  the 
peristome  is  slightly  thickened,  and  the  edge 
is  not  sharp. 

COLOR  green;  with  a  tinge  of  brown  upon 
the  last  whirl;  aperture  white. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.     Mexico. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  species  was  discovered  by  Humboldt  in 
Mexico,  and  is  admitted  on  the  authority  of 
Valenciennes,  who  wrote  the  conchological 
part  of  the  work  cited;  and  from  which  I  have 
taken  the  above  descriptions,  and  my  plate  of 
the  shell. 


28 


PALUDINA  SUBPURPUREA,  Say. 
PLATE  9. 

P.  testa  conica,  subpurpurea:  spira  elongata,  apice  sub- 
convexo:  anfractibus  quinis,  convexis:  sutura  impressa: 
apertura  ovato-rotundata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  SUBPURPUREA,  SAY.     Disseminator,  vol.  ii.  p.   245. 
Mrs.  Say's  reprint,  p.  21.     Am.  Conch.,  pi.  xxx.  fig.  2. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "very  pale  bluish,  with  minute  yel- 
low points,  particularly  on  the  rostrum,  tenta- 
cula,  and  prominent  respiratory  tube,  which  is 
as  long  as  the  tentacular  eyes  on  the  exterior 
side  of  the  tentacula,*  near  the  middle  of  their 
length:  the  anterior  portion  of  the  foot  is  very 
short."— Say. 

SHELL  ovate-conic,  composed  of  about  five 


*  Say  followed  the  foreign  authorities  in  considering  this  to  be 
the  plural  form;  whereas  it  is  the  singular,  the  plural  being  ten- 
taculae. 


PALUDINA  SUBPURPUREA.  29 

convex  whirls,  of  which  the  lines  of  growth  are 
very  fine  and  oblique:  spire  lengthened,  with 
the  apex  scarcely  obtuse:  suture  well  marked: 
aperture  ovate-orbicular,  widest  in  the  middle; 
the  posterior  end  of  the  labrum  is  much  ad- 
vanced upon  the  penultimate  whirl:  a  few  in- 
distinct spiral  bands  are  sometimes  visible. 

COLOR.  The  tint  is  difficult  to  define,  but 
would  be  approached  by  a  dark  shade  of 
Syme's  'brownish  purple  red'  mixed  with  dark 
'broccoli  browrn;'  the  inside  being  a  lighter  tint 
of  the  same  color. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  the 
Wabash,  and  some  of  its  branches:  Mr.  An- 
thony has  received  information  of  its  occur- 
rence near  St.  Louis,  and  has  sent  me  a 
specimen  from  Wisconsin. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  tubular  cylindrical  organ  supposed  by 
Say  to  be  a  respiratory  siphon,  is  probably  the 
outlet  of  the  viscous  glands;  but  I  am  not  now 
able  to  refer  to  Cuvier's  memoir  to  ascertain 
the  fact.  In  Paludina  decisa  it  is  strongly 
dotted  with  orange,  and  projects  forward  from 
the  posterior  angle  of  the  aperture,  at  some 


30  PALUDINA  SUBPURPUREA. 

distance  within  the  margin,  being  upon  the 
right  side.  It  will  scarcely  be  confounded  with 
another  organ  resembling  the  point  of  a  tenta- 
cle, situated  near  the  external  base  of  the  left 
tentacle. 

The  foot  is  described  as  short  in  front;  but 
although  this  is  the  case  (in  the  genus)  when 
the  animal  is  in  a  state  of  repose,  it  is  far 
advanced  when  in  motion;  and  it  is  a  singular 
fact  that  the  rostrum  of  the  animal  is  not 
advanced  at  the  same  time,  the  latter  indeed, 
being  scarcely  ever  visible. 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  9. 

Figures  1  and  2  are  taken  from  an  adult  specimen  in 
the  cabinet  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences;  3  and  4 
represent  half-grown  shells. 


31 


PALUDINA  INTERTEXTA,  Say. 

PLATE  10.— FIGS.  1—6. 

P.  testa  conica,  tenui,  ampullacea,  diaphana:  apice  ob- 
tuso:  striis  transversis  minutissime  corrugatis:  anfractibus 
quaternis,  vel  quinis:  sutura  valde  impressa:  apertura 
postice  rotundata,  intus  transversim  fasciata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  INTERTEXTA,  SAY.     Disseminator,  vol.  ii.  p.  244.  Mrs. 

Say's  reprint,  p.  20.  Amer.  Conchology,  pi.  30,  figs.  3,  4. 
P.  TRANSVERSA,  SAY.  Disseminator,  vol.  ii.  p.  215.  Mrs. 

Say's  reprint,  p.  20. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  large,  thin,  ventricose,  and  slightly 
translucent;  with  about  five  volutions:  suture 
deep:  surface  polished:  lines  of  growth  unde- 
viating:  spiral  marks  and  lines  numerous,  and 
very  finely  wrinkled:  aperture  large,  ovate,  and 
rounded  posteriorly:  opercle  translucent,  with 
the  lines  of  accretion  concentric. 

COLOR  of  the  shell  dark  olivaceous,  or  brown- 
ish: aperture  edged  with  black,  columella  white, 


32  PALUDINA  INTERTEXTA. 

inside  reddish,  sometimes  bluish,  and  generally 
banded  with  reddish:  opercle  bright  claret  color. 
GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  abun- 
dantly in  the  neighborhood  of  New  Orleans: 
South  Carolina  is  given  as  the  locality  of 
specimens  in  the  Academy's  collection. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  young  shell  is  shorter,  more  transverse, 
the  aperture  proportionally  wider,  the  peristome 
rarely  edged  with  black;  and  the  anterior  por- 
tion of  the  labium  is  often  of  a  bluish  tinge. 

Say's  figure  was  taken  from  a  shell  about 
the  size  of  my  figure  3,  which  represents  a 
shell  differing  considerably  from  the  large  one 
figured;  the  two  agree,  however,  in  the  minute- 
ly corrugated  surface,  and  the  transverse  in- 
terior bands. 

The  somewhat  lengthened  spire,  and  the 
want  of  an  umbilic,  distinguish  this  shell  from 
Ampullaria,  as  characterized  by  Lamarck;  al- 
though its  approach  to  that  genus  is  sufficient- 
ly near,  to  render  an  examination  of  the  animal 
necessary,  before  its  proper  place  can  be  per- 
manently determined.  "It  is  remarkable  for 
the  numerous  obsolete  transverse  lines;  which 


PALUD1NA   TRANSVERSA.  33 

seem  like  equidistant  corrugations  of  the  epi- 
dermis ;  having  no  effect  whatever  in  modify- 
ing the  calcareous  surface,  upon  which  no  trace 
of  them  is  exhibited."  Say. 

I  think  Paludina  transversa  rests  upon  too 
slender  grounds  to  be  admitted  as  a  distinct 
species.  I  give  figures  of  the  original  speci- 
mens in  the  Academy's  collection,  and  insert 
Say's  descriptions  and  remarks  here. 

PALUDINA  TRANSVERSA.  "  Shell  transverse,  depressed, 
orbicular  ;  spire  convex ;  whorls  three  and  a  half;  with  nu- 
merous minute,  slightly  elevated,  revolving  lines  ;  suture  not 
widely  indented  ;  body  whirl  very  convex,  short ;  umbilicus 
small ;  operculum  pale  fulvous. 

"  Greatest  width  two-fifths  of  an  inch.  Inhabits  Louisiana. 

"  We  obtained  two  specimens  in  the  marshes  near  New 
Orleans.  It  is  much  wider  in  proportion  to  the  length  than 
any  other  species  I  have  seen,  excepting  in  this  respect  even 
M.  subglobosa,  Nob.,  and  especially  P.  intertexta,  Nob.,  of 
which  latter,  in  fact,  I  at  first  supposed  it  to  be  the  young, 
in  consequence  of  its  rotundity,  and  the  similarity  of  its  ca- 
pillary lines ;  but,  inasmuch  as  the  number  of  its  whirls  is 
nearly  the  same,  whilst  the  magnitude  differs  so  greatly,  I 
have  separated  it  as  a  different  species."  Say. 

REFERENCE  TO  PLATE  10. 

Figures  1  and  2  represent  a  large  shell  from  New  Orleans; 
a,  opercle  ;  3,4,  are  drawn  from  a  South  Carolina  specimen  ; 
5,  6,  represent  Paludina  transversa,  Say,  and  7,  8,  P.  sub- 
globosa, Say. 

F5 


34 


PALUDINA  MAGNIFICA,  Conrad. 

PLATE  11. 

P.  testa  conica,  crassa,  olivacea,  longitudinaliter  subru- 
gosa  ;  lineis  duobus  transversis  tuberculatis  ;  apice  truncate - 
erosa  ;  anfractibus  quaternis,  suturis  valde  impressis  ;  aper- 
tura  obliqua,  semicircular!,  lutescente,  intus  transversim 
fasciata. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

P.  MAGNTFICA,  Conrad.     New  Freshwater  Shells,  p.  48,  pi.  8, 

fig.  4.     (May,  1834,  fide  Conrad.) 
P.  BIMONILIFERA,  Lea.     Tr.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol.  5,  p.  58,  pi. 

xix,  fig.  71.     (Sept.,  1834,  fide  Conrad,  UnionidaB,  p.  25.) 
P.  ANGULATA,  Lea.     Proceed.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol.  2,  p.  83; 

1841. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  ovate,  conical,  ventricose,  apex  trun- 
cate-eroded; whirls  four,  rough,  with  a  sub- 
central  spiral  row  of  regular  tubercles,  below 
which  upon  the  body  whirl  there  is  a  similar 
but  less  prominent  row,  which  is  scarcely 
covered  by  the  advancing  growth  of  the  pos- 


PALUDINA   MAGNIFICA.  35 

terior  angle  of  the  aperture;  suture  deeply 
impressed ;  apical  margin  of  the  whirls  bor- 
dered with  a  prominent  subnodulous  undu- 
lating line ;  aperture  wide,  very  oblique,  and 
rounded  anteriorly;  labrum  sharp,  subangular, 
with  a  level  margin ;  opercle  very  thin, 
translucent,  rectilinear  upon  the  inner,  and 
semicircular  upon  the  outer  side ;  the  margin 
highly  colored ;  the  lines  of  growth,  although 
indistinct,  appear  to  be  concentric. 

COLOR  of  the  shell  varying  from  yellowish 
green  to  dark  olivaceous ;  a  dark  line  fre- 
quently covers  the  central  row  of  tubercles ; 
the  inside  is  generally  light  salmon  color, 
banded  with  purple. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  rows  of  tubercles  are  sometimes  obso- 
lete, and  replaced  by  subnodulous  lines.  Some 
specimens  are  rather  ventricose,  and  others 
more  slender  than  those  figured. 

The  young  shell  has  only  the  central  row  of 
tubercles,  and  has  the  apex  obtusely  rounded. 


36  PALUDINA    MAGNIFICA. 

"A  beautiful  species  when  perfect,  occurring  in  vast 
abundance  on  the  masses  of  calcareous  rock  which  have 
fallen  from  the  strata  above  into  the  Alabama  river,  at 
Claiborne.  I  found  it  living  only  in  such  situations,  and 
exclusively  within  a  range  of  six  or  eight  miles.  In  the 
Tombeckbe  or  Black  Warrior  rivers  I  never  observed  a 
specimen  of  it,  although  I  searched  particularly  for  it  on  the 
rocks  at  St.  Stephens."  Conrad. 

The  soft  parts  of  this  form  (which  I  have 
named  Tulotoma)  are  a  desideratum.  The 
animal  may  be  found  to  have  dark  colors  in 
lines,  and  a  small  foot. 

The  following  Alabama  species  are  charac- 
terized in  Yol.  2  of  the  Proceedings  of  the 
American  Philosophical  Society  : 

P.  TROOSTIANA,  Lea,  p.  34,  1841. 
P.  COOSAENSIS,  Lea,  p.  83,  1841. 
P.  CYCLOSTOMAFORMIS,  Lea,  p.  83,  1841. 
P.  INCRASSATA,  Lea,  p.  243,  1842. 
P.  COARCTATA,  Lea,  p.  243,  1842. 


Q> 


P.    DECISA,    say. 


i Helen  E.Lacwson  dclct  o.ol. 


^W 


P   SUBCARINATA,  Say. 


Ifisa  Helen  E.Lawson  del  et  col. 


Plate S 


rc 
vJL 

5 


INTEGRA,    Say- 


Plate  4 


/=  PONDEROSA, 


Plate  5. 


I'laU-  0. 


I 


.  Lin. 


I'latc  7. 


1     2.     />      GEORGIANS,    Lea. 


3_4.    P     BENGALEE'S  IS,    Ls 


P.       CARINATA,     Valen. 


/>.     SUBPURPUREA,     Say. 


Plate  ID. 


1_6       I'.      INTERTEXTA,       Say.  7_8      P.      SIBGLOBOSA,     Say. 


P    MAGNIFICA.    Conrad 


GENUS  AMPULLARIA,  Lamarck. 


PLATE  1. 

Testa  globosa,  ventricosa,  labio  non  calloso;  apertura 
Integra,'  marginibus  connexis;  labro  acuto,  non  reflexo; 
operculum  corneum. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

HELIX,  LIN. 

NERITA,  MULLER. 

BULIMUS,  BRUG. 

•flMPULLARiA,  LAM.     An.  sans  vert.,  vol.  viii.  p.  527. 

GUILDING.    Zool.  Journ.,  iii.  538,  pi.  supp.  27,  figs.  7,  8. 

• 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  globular,  spiral;  head  bisected  ante- 
riorly, each  half  lengthened  into  a  short  taper- 
ing labial  palpus,  having  the  sense  of  touch 
highly  developed:  "mouth  terminal,  circular, 
expanding  and  contracting  in  every  direction 
like  the  opening  of  a  purse;  within,  furnished 
with  two  semicircular  jaws  moving  laterally, 

6    1 


AMPULLARIA. 


and  meeting  on  their  straight  edges:"*  two 
very  long  and  slender  tentacles  arise  from  the 
base  of  the  head,  and  are  provided  with  ocu- 
liferous  peduncles  at  their  external  base:  "ovi- 
parous, sexes  distinct,  the  female  being  much 
larger  than  the  male:  mantle  simple,  except  that 
the  upper  left  wing  is  extended  so  as  to  admit 
of  being  rolled  up  into  a  tube  occasionally:")"" 
foot  large,  thin,  truncated  in  front,  with  the 
sides  parallel,  or  converging  towards  the  pos- 
terior extremity,  which  is  rounded,  and  bears 
the  opercle. 

SHELL  globular,  ventricose,  generally  umbili- 
cated,  and  covered  with  a  periostraca;  aperture 
oval,  spire  short,  body  whirl  much  the  largest. 

HABITS.  A.  depressa  is  found  at  Hopeton, 
a  swamp  plantation  on  the  banks  of  the  Alata- 
maha  river  in  Georgia,  U.  S.,  about  fifteen 
miles  from  the  sea;  moving  along  the  bottom 
and  sides  of  muddy  ditches,  in  stagnant  water, 
and  sinks  by  expelling  the  air  which  has  been 


*  J.  H.  Couper,  in  letters. 

f  Ib.     Guilding  describes  another  and  shorter  siphon 
upon  the  right  side. 


AMPULLARIA.  3 

taken  in  by  the  siphon.  This  organ  has  great 
extensibility,  and  is  frequently  protruded  above 
the  water  to  take  in  air.  Whilst  it  is  passing 
through  the  water  the  extremity  is  closed,  and 
in  its  passage  bubbles  are  frequently  expelled. 
The  palpi  are  constantly  used  as  tactual  organs, 
and  the  tentacles  also  to  some  extent. 

The  food  of  these  animals  is  vegetable,  and 
the  cultivated  lettuce  was  eagerly  devoured  by 
A.  depressa  and  an  exotic  species.  The  latter, 
when  eating  anything  which  was  long  and 
slender,  would  commence  at  one  end  and  retain 
its  hold  until  the  whole  were  swallowed.  If 
the  piece  were  too  thin  to  supply  it  fast  enough, 
the  animal  would  double  it  about  the  middle, 
and  thus  gradually  draw  in  double  the  quantity. 
These  two  species  were  in  vessels  within  doors, 
and  were  most  active  at  night,  seldom  exposing 
the  body  during  the  day.  They  resemble  the 
Physada3  in  gliding  over  the  edge  of  the  vessel 
in  which  they  are  kept. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

If  this  genus  is  hydropneumonobranchiate,  it 
is  not  far  removed  from  Amphibola,  which  forms 


AMPULLARIA. 


a  passage  to  the  Physadse.  In  the  shell  there 
is  some  affinity  with  Natica,  especially  with 
those  species  which  have  not  a  callus  upon  the 
labium,  as  in  N.  heros,  Say,  (Gould  Invert,  of 
Mass.,  fig.  163,)  which,  without  the  opercle, 
might  deceive  a  practised  conchologist. 

For  my  ability  to  give  the  history  of  this 
genus  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  J. 
Hamilton  Couper,  Esq,,  who  has  sent  me  an 
extensive  series  of  specimens,  including  several 
living  ones,  with  notes  on  their  habits.  He  in- 
forms me  that  the  species  is  most  active  in 
May. 


AMPULLARIA  DEPRESSA,  Say. 

PLATES  1,  2. 

A.  testa  subventricosa,  umbilicata,  laevi,  olivaceo-viridi, 
fasciis  olivaceis  cincta:  anfractibus  5,  sutura  impressa, 
spiral  subdepressa:  apertura  rufescente,  fasciis  obscuris: 
operculum  tenue,  corneum. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

A.  DEPRESSA,  SAY.    Long's  2nd  Exped.,  vol.  ii.  p.  264. 
A.  PALUDOSA,  SAY.  Disseminator,  Aug.  12,  1829,  p.  245. 

Mrs.  Say's  reprint,  p.  22. 
Ji.  HOPETONENSIS,  LEA*    Trans.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.,  vol.  v. 

p.  115,  pi.  19,  fig.  84. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "with  the  head  and  tentacles  yellow- 
ish-brown in  the  males,  and  reddish-orange  in 
the  females,  and  in  both  deeply  striated  and 
dotted  wittf  black." — Couper. 

SHELL  subventricose,  umbilicated,  composed 
of  5  rather  smooth  and  polished  whirls,  con- 
spicuously marked  with  the  lines  of  growth: 


6  AMPULLARIA  DEPRESSA. 

suture  well  marked:  surface  with  a  tendency  to 
form  flattened  rounded  facets  in  some  indi- 
viduals: spire  somewhat  depressed,  but  differing 
in  different  individuals:  labrum  sharp. 

COLOR  greenish-olive  or  brownish-green,  with 
a  series  of  10  or  15  olivaceous  bands,  posterior 
or  apical  margin  of  the  whirls  more  or  less 
yellow;  aperture  reddish-brown,  varying  to  pur- 
ple, and  banded  with  a  darker  tint  of  the  same 
color. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  the 
river  St.  John's,  according  to  Say,  and  is  con- 
fined to  a  limited  tract  in  southeastern  Georgia. 

HABITS.  "The  animal  lives  in  the  canals  and 
ditches  of  the  rice-fields,  in  which  the  current 
is  very  small  and  the  bottom  soft  and  muddy. 
The  females  are  oviparous,  laying  30  to  70 
eggs  on  aquatic  plants  or  sticks  (pi.  1,  fig.  2) 
above  the  line  of  the  water:  eggs  one-fifth  of 
an  inch  in  diameter,  nearly  spherical,  slightly 
pointed  at  one  end,  covered  with  a  thin  cal- 
careous shell,  flesh-coloured  when  first  laid,  but 
passing  to  a  light  bluish-grey.  The  laying  sea- 
son commences  about  the  end  of  May,  and 
continues  during  the  greater  part  of  the  summer. 


AMPULLARIA  DEPRESSA.  7 

The  eggs  are  soft  when  first  excluded,  but  ac- 
quire the  hard  shell  within  12  hours,  from  the 
action  of  the  atmosphere.  As  the  egg  passes 
out  of  the  ovarium,  it  appears  to  be  impelled 
on  a  sheet  of  mucus  until  it  reaches  the  point 
to  which  it  is  to  be  attached,  when  it  is  accu- 
rately adjusted  by  the  mere  direction  of  the 
fluid,  the  animal  remaining  inactive.  As  soon 
as  the  first  egg  has  been  secured  to  its  place, 
another  is  excluded  from  the  ovarium  and  slowly 
descends  in  the  mucus  to  its  place." — Couper, 
in  letters. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Say  changed  his  first  trivial  name  because  he 
supposed  it  to  be  preoccupied  for  a  fossil  spe- 
cies, but  as  this  proves  to  be  a  Natica,  the  first 
name  need  not  be  relinquished.* 

Mr.  Lea  alludes  to  Say's  species  and  remarks 

*  M.  Deshayes  (Lam.  viii.  551)  thinks  this  species 
(Lam.  No.  7)  and  the  succeeding  ones  in  the  same  work, 
belong  to  Natica.  I  would  extend  the  observation  to  some 
of  the  preceding  fossil  species,  as  A.  spirata,  A.  acuminata, 
and  A.  acuta. 


8  AMPULLARIA  GLOBOSA. 

that  his  own  is  "less  globose"  and  "flatter  on 
the  side  and  superior  part  of  the  whorls." 
Since  Mr.  Lea  wrote,  however,  the  shell  has 
been  found  assuming  several  tolerably  distinct 
forms,  as  the  elongated,  pi.  4,  fig.  4;  the  globose, 
fig.  5;  and  the  oblique,  fig.  6. 

This  species  being  found  beyond  31°  of  north 
latitude,  may  be  considered  as  occupying  the 
northern  limit  of  an  intertropical  genus. 


AMPULLARIA  GLOBOSA,  Swainson. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

A.  GLOBOSA,  SWAINSON.     Zool.  Illustrations. 
Ji.  ROTUNDATA,  SAY.     Disseminator,  Aug.  12,  1829,  p. 
245.     Mrs.  Say's  reprint,  p.  21. 

DESCRIPTION. 

"SHELL  remarkably  globose;  length  and 
breadth  equal,  dark  brown,  but  becoming  oliva- 
ceous towards  the  aperture:  spire  but  little  ele- 
vated: suture  moderately  impressed:  body  whirl 


AMPULLARIA  GLOBOSA.  9 

a  little  undulated  instead  of  being  wrinkled; 
these  undulations  being  very  perceptible  to  the 
finger  within  the  shell:  aperture  within  on  the 
margin  thickened  equally  all  round  and  fulvous, 
with  a  slight  groove  for  the  reception  of  the 
operculum,  hardly  visible  but  palpable:  within 
somewhat  perlaceous;  a  little  darker  on  the 
columella:  umbilicus  small,  narrow:  operculum 
calcareous,  deeply  and  concentrically  rugose,  so 
as  to  appear  stratified;  nucleus  on  the  side 
towards  the  labium,  submarginal. 

"Length  less  than  one  inch  and  four-fifths; 
greatest  breadth,  about  the  same. 

"For  this  interesting  species,  we  are  indebted 
to  Captain  Le  Conte,  of  the  Topographical 
Engineers,  who  informed  me  that  he  found  it  in 
St.  John's  river,  in  Florida." — Say. 

This  species,  as  well  as  "Paludina  elongata, 
Swainson"  figured  in  this  work  under  the  name 
of  P.  bengalensis,  are  both  given  by  Say  as 
from  the  river  St.  John's,  and  as  they  have 
never  been  heard  of  since  as  occurring  there, 
it  is  probable  that  they  were  introduced  acci- 
dentally, as  they  are  found  together  at  Calcutta. 


10 


AMPULLARIA  FLAGELLATA,  Say. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

A.  FLAGELLATA,  SAY.    Dissem.  1829,  p.  260.   Mrs.  Say's 
reprint,  p.  22,  New  Harmony,  1840. 

DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  "subglobose,  olivaceous-brown,  with 
15  or  16  revolving,  dull  reddish-brown,  slender 
bands:  spire  conic,  moderately  elevated,  acute: 
body  whirl  regularly  rounded,  more  obviously 
undulated  or  obtusely  wrinkled  near  the  aper- 
ture: umbilicus  free,  obvious:  labrum  a  little 
dilated:  within  reddish-brown:  labium,  columella, 
and  margin  of  the  labrum,  white:  operculum 
horny. 

"LENGTH  over  one  inch  and  a  half:  greatest 
width  one  inch  and  two-fifths.  Inhabits  Mexico. 

"Occurs  in  plenty  a  short  distance  below 
Vera  Cruz.  We  found  them  immediately  be- 
hind the  sand-hillocks  of  the  coast,  in  situations 
which,  in  rainy  seasons,  are  covered  with  fresh 

water I  am  unacquainted  with  the  A. 

linearis,  Perry,  which  he  supposes  to  be  a  native 
of  the  coast  of  North  America. 


11 


AMPULLARIA  URCEUS,  Muller. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

NERITA  URCEUS,  MULLER.    Verm.,  p.  174,  No.  360. 
«/?.  RUGOSA,  LAM.,  vol.  viii.  p.  532. 
A.  URCEUS,  FERUSSAC.     Syst.  Conch.,  p.  68,  No.  3. 
.#.  RUGOSA,  LAM.  VALENC.  in  Humb.  Rec.  d'Obs.  deZool. 
etc.,  vol.  ii.  p.  258,  pi.  57,  fig.  2,  a,  6. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

This  fine  species  inhabits  Mexico,  and  ap- 
pears never  to  have  been  found  in  the  Missis- 
sippi as  Lamarck  supposes. 


(A?  INTERTEXTA,  Say.) 

Paludina  intertexta,  Say,  presents  much  the 
appearance  of  an  imperforate  Ampullaria.  Pa- 
ludina ponderosa,  Say,  which  M.  Deshayes  sup- 
poses may  be  an  Ampullaria,  is  a  true  Paludina, 
as  some  drawings  of  the  mollusk  sent  me  by 
Mrs.  Say  prove. 


A.    SEPRESSA.     Sav 


lf:.B  Hrim  F  Uwnon  4ai  .-i  cal. 


A.    DEPRESSA.      Sav 


MiBf  K»>n  F.  i.m  >r.  Iri  el  col 


GENUS  VALVATA,  Muller. 

PLATE  1.— FIG.  1. 

Testa  discoidea  vel  conoidea,  umbilicata;  anfractibus 
cylindraceis,  cavitatem  spiralem  non  deformantibus:  aper- 
tura  rotundata,  marginibus  connexis,  acutis:  operculurn 
orbiculare. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

HELIX.     TURBO.     CYCLOSTOMA.    NERITA. 
FERUSSAC.     Syst.  Conch,  p.  75. 
LAMARCK.     An.  sans  vert.,  vol.  viii.  p.  398. 
SOWERBY.     Genera  of  Shells. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  spiral;  foot  of  medium  size,  divided 
in  front,  and  directed  outwards  on  each:  head 
long,  proboscidiform  and  slender;  mouth  inferior 
and  terminal,  provided  with  a  pair  of  lateral 
jaws  and  a  large  lingual  mass:  tentacles  long 
and  slender,  with  the  eyes  at  their  posterior 
base :  branchiae  plumose,  usually  exserted;  a 
long  retractile  filament  resembling  a  tentacle 

H    1 


2  VALVATA. 

proceeds  from  the  right  side  of  the  neck:  anus 
upon  the  right  side. 

SHELL  conoid  or  subdiscoid,  umbilicated: 
volutions  cylindrical  or  subcylindrical;  aperture 
circular,  not  modified  by  the  penultimate  whirl; 
closed  with  an  orbicular  opercle,  whose  lines  of 
growth  are  concentric. 

EXAMPLE.     V.  tricarinata,  Say. 

HABITS.  Found  upon  the  muddy  bottom  of 
quiet  and  not  very  shallow  waters.  The  ova 
are  deposited  in  detached  greenish  globules, 
each  containing  a  number  of  germs. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

The  shell  is  allied  to  that  of  the  marine  genus 
Skenea,  and  the  body  whirl  is  not  modified  by 
the  penultimate  one.  In  the  latter  character  it 
approaches  to  some  of  the  species  of  Amnicola, 
and  in  the  absence  of  the  opercle,  they  cannot 
be  properly  distinguished. 

The  species  are  small  in  size  and  few  in 
number.  Six  recent  and  two  fossil  species  are 
described  in  Deshayes'  Lamarck,  all  of  which, 
except  V.  tricarinata,  occur  in  Europe.  The 


VALVATA  TRICARINATA. 


cause  of  this  must  be  the  carelessness  of  col- 
lectors in  distant  regions,  in  passing  over  ob- 
jects of  small  size;  as  it  is  not  probable  that 
the  genus  is  as  confined  in  its  distribution  as 
the  localities  of  the  described  species  might 
lead  us  to  suppose. 


VALVATA  TRICARINATA,  Say. 

PLATE  1. — FIG. 

V.    testa  viridi,  turbinata;    spiral  bicarinata,  depressa; 
anfractibus  3,  ultimo  tricarinato. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

CYCLOSTOMA  TRICARINATA,  SAY.     Nich.   Encyc.   (Am. 

ed.)  art.  Conch.  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  i.  p.  13. 

Anno  1817.     Subsequently  VALVATA. 
VALVATA  CARINATA,  SOWEKBY.     Genera  of  Shells. 
V.  TRICARINATA,  SAY.    DESH.  Lam.,  vol.  viii.  p.  507. 
V.  TRICARINATA,  SAY.     GOULD.  Invert,  of  Massachusetts, 

p.  225,  fig.  156. 
ADAMS.     Thompson's  Hist,  of  Vermont,  App.,  p.  2. 


4  VALVATA  TRICARINATA. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  slightly  translucent,  branchial  fila- 
ment long;  eyes  black  and  conspicuous;  pos- 
terior extremity  of  the  foot  extending  nearly  to 
the  circumference  of  the  shell,  and  terminating 
obtusely;  opercle  very  near  the  extremity  of 
the  upper  surface  of  the  foot,  and  visible 
through  the  substance  of  it  from  the  lower  side. 

SHELL  turbinate,  translucent,  having  rather 
more  than  3  volutions,  which  are  smooth  and 
prismoidal,  with  the  lines  of  growth  faint:  spire 
flattened:  volutions  much  flattened  between  the 
carinse;  body  whirl  tricarinate;  the  posterior 
carina  revolving  to  the  apex,  and  the  medial 
one  just  covered  by  the  advance  of  the  inner 
margin  of  the  aperture:  base  widely  and  deeply 
umbilicate,  umbilic  bounded  by  the  inferior 
carina.  Opercle  thin,  concave  externally. 

COLOR  greenish,  or  light  chesnut-brown; 
carinse  whitish,  with  pale  corresponding  lines 
within  the  shell. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  New 
England  and  the  Middle  States.  Say  found  it 
common  as  far  west  as  Council  BlufF,  and  Dr. 


VALVATA  TRICARINATA.  5 

Richardson  as  far  north  as  Methy  lake,  in  lati- 
tude 57°.  The  New  England  specimens  are 
smaller  than  those  of  the  Middle  States. 

"Var.  SIMPLEX,  without  the  keels.  Professors  Bene- 
dict and  Adams  have  found  this  species  in  Vermont; 
and  in  very  many  instances  it  is  perfectly  simple  and 
cylindrical,  individuals  occurring  with  every  degree 
of  carination,  showing  that  it  is  still  the  same  species.* 
In  this  state,  the  large  tunnel-shaped  umbilicus  is  the 
best  characteristic." — Gould. 

VAR.  ?  BICARINATA,  Lea.  Proceedings  Am.  Phil. 
Soc.,  vol.  ii.  p.  83.  "Testa  orbiculari,  superne  planu- 
lata,  bicarinata,  subcrassa*,  superne  cornea,  inferne  al- 
bida,  late  umbilicatS;  suturis  impressis;  spira;  depressa; 
anfractibus  quaternis,  convexis;  apertura  rotunda,  intus 
albidl  Hab.  Schuylkill  river."— Lea. 

Mr.  Lea  informs  me  that  the  soft  parts  pre- 
sent a  specific  distinction,  notwithstanding  the 
similarity  of  the  shell  with  tricarinata  ami  its 
varieties. 

VAR.  ?  UNICARINATA,  De  Kay,  Zool.  of  New 
York. 

*  "  Varieties  occur  in  which  the  middle  carina  is  obso- 
lete, or  in  which  none  are  very  distinct." — Adams. 

H  2 


VALVATA  SINCERA. 


OBSERVATIONS. 


When  the  posterior  margin  of  the  aperture 
is  anterior  to  the  medial  carina,  the  spire  be- 
comes bicarinate. 

The  animal  sometimes  moves  along  in  an 
inverted  position,  with  the  foot  applied  to  the 
surface  of  the  water. 

The  ova  are  deposited  from  the  first  day  of 
March  to  the  end  of  July,  in  transparent  masses 
half  a  line  in  diameter,  each  containing  a  num- 
ber of  germs  of  a  bright  green  color,  dotted 
with  yellow. 


VALVATA  SINCERA,  Say. 

PLATE  1'.— FIG. 

V.  testa  globoso-discoidea,  tenui,  virescente,  late  per- 
forata,  spira  subelevata,  anfractibus  3 — 4  simplicibus. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

V.  SINCERA,  SAY.     Long's  2nd  Expedition,  Appendix. 
V.  SINCERA,  ADAMS.     App.  Hist,  of  Vermont,  p.  2. 


VALVATA  SINCERA. 


DESCRIPTION. 


ANIMAL.  Head  whitish,  above  with  a  tinge 
of  slate-colour,  increasing  posteriorly;  mouth 
pale  yellowish;  tentacles  filiform,  whitish,  more 
than  0.2  inch  long;  eyes  minute,  black  and 
shining,  situated  on  the  upper  and  outer  part  of 
the  posterior  side  of  the  protuberance  at  the 
base  of  the  tentacles:  margin  of  the  branchial 
cavity  blackish-brown;  pinnatifid  branchia  semi- 
transparent,  consisting  of  a  stem,  on  each  side 
of  which  extend  at  right  angles  filiform  obtuse 
branches  bent  in  zigzag,  shorter  towards  the 
extremity,  about  10  on  each  side,  the  whole  re- 
sembling a  feather;  tentaculiform  branchia  rather 
longer  than  the  tentacles,  equally  slender,  and 
obtuse:  foot  whitish,  swelling,  and  regularly 
rounded  posteriorly,  with  the  anterior  lobes 
sharply  angular,  and  the  middle  somewhat  con- 
tracted.— Adams,  in  letters. 

SHELL  "globose-discoid,  obsoletely  striate, 
brownish-green;  whorls  three  and  a  half,  accu- 
rately rounded,  rapidly  enlarging  to  the  aper- 
ture; suture  deeply  impressed;  spire  but  little 
elevated;  apex  obtuse;  umbilicus  deep,  about 


8  VALVATA  SINCERA. 

two-thirds  as  wide  as  the  last  whirl;  margin  of 
the  aperture  touching  the  penultimate  whirl. 
Length  0.1;  breadth  0.2  inch;  divergence  of  the 
spire  about  135°." — Adams. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Inhabits  the 
Northwestern  Territory  and  Vermont. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"This  shell  is  much  like  the  var.  SIMPLEX  of 
the  preceding  species.  The  umbilicus  is  usually 
a  little  larger,  but  the  most  striking  character- 
istic is  the  rapid  enlargement  of  the  whorls,  the 
last  being  more  than  three  times  the  diameter 
of  the  penultimate.  The  divergence  of  the 
spire  is  never  so  small  as  in  that  species,  but 
like  that,  is  sometimes  much  more  than  in  the 
type  of  the  species,  even  to  180°." — Adams. 


VALVATA  HUMERALIS,  Say. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

V.  HUMERALIS,  SAY.  Disseminator,  Aug.  12, 1829,  p.  244. 

j.t  j 
DESCRIPTION. 

SHELL  "  subglobose,  depressed:  spire  convex, 
not  prominent:  whirls  three  and  a  half;  with 
the  shoulder  depressed,  plane:  wrinkled  across, 
or  rather  with  slightly  raised  lines:  aperture 
appressed  to  the  penultimate  whirl,  but  not  in- 
terrupted by  it:  umbilicus  rather  large. 

"Greatest  breadth  less  than  one-fifth  of  an 
inch. 

"Inhabits  Mexico. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

"Differs  from  V.  sincera  of  the  Northwest 
Territory  in  being  more  depressed  and  in  having 
a  shoulder  or  plane  surface  near  the  suture. 
The  umbilicus  is  larger  than  that  of  V.  pisci- 
nalis,  Mull.,  and  the  spire  more  depressed;  the 
species  is  also  destitute  of  the  depressed 
shoulder." — Say. 


10 


VALVATA  PUPOIDEA,  Gould. 

PLATE  1. — FIG. 

V.  test^  minima,  conica,  elongata,  anfractibus  4 — 5 
cylindraceis,  ultimo  a  precedente  disjuncto. 

SYNONYMS  AND  REFERENCES. 

VALVATA  PUPOIDEA,  GOULD.     Invert,  of  Mass.,  p.  226, 
fig.  155. 

DESCRIPTION. 

ANIMAL  "very  active;  head  proboscidiform, 
half  as  long  as  the  tentacles,  bi-lobed  in  front, 
dark,  terminated  with  light;  tentacles  rather 
stout,  light  drab-colored,  with  a  line  of  silvery 
dots  on  the  upper  side,  over  the  large,  black 
eyes;  foot  tongue-shaped,  as  long  as  the  first 
whorl,  dilated  into  two  acute  angles  in  front, 
light  drab-color;  respiratory  organ  occasionally 
protruded  to  half  the  length  of  a  tentacle  on 
the  right  side. 

SHELL  "small,  elongated-ovate,  opake,  ches- 


VALVATA  PUPOIDEA.  11 

nut-colored,  when  divested  of  the  rough,  dirty 
pigment  which  usually  adheres  closely  to  it; 
whorls  four  or  five,  minutely  wrinkled,  the  pos- 
terior one  small  and  flattened  so  as  to  form  an 
obtuse  apex;  the  others  cylindrical,  and  so  par- 
tially in  contact  as  to  expose  about  one-half  of 
the  cylinder;  the  last  entirely  disjoined  from  the 
preceding  one  for  at  least  the  half  of  a  revolu- 
tion [in  the  adult];  aperture  circular,  lip  simple 
and  sharp;  on  looking  at  the  shell  from  below, 
no  umbilical  opening  is  found;  operculum  horny, 
apex  central,  elements  concentric.  Length  one- 
tenth,  breadth  three-fortieths  inch." — Gould. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION.  Found  in  ponds 
in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  ad- 
hering to  submerged  sticks  and  stones. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

In  its  immature  state,  before  the  body  whirl 
is  detached,  this  species  cannot  be  distinguished 
from  Amnicola,  except  by  the  opercle,  and  the 
slightly  ovate  aperture  adds  to  the  deceptive 
character  of  the  shell.  The  separation  of  the 
last  whirl  deprives  the  shell  of  a  proper  umbilic. 


1_4.    17    TR1CARINATA,      Sa,v  6_10-     K     SINCERA,      Sax*  11_13.     F    PTJPOIDEA,      Goxdd 


Hden  E.  L  IWSOIL  iel.  et  col. 


INDEX 

To  the  genera  AMNICOLA,  AMPULLARIA,  PALUDINA,  and  VALVATA.    Synonyms 
are  in  italics.    The  part  devoted  to  each  genus  is  paged  separately. 


Amnicola  attenuata,  .  p.  22,  fig.  13 
cincinnatiensis,  9,  f.  4 
cincinnatiense,  19 

decisa,    •    .          7,  f.  1—3 
elongata  (err  cler.) 


f.  9 
17 

18,  f.  10 
10,  f.  5,  6 

16 

10,  12 
21      f.  12 
24 
f.7 
24 
f.  8 
10 

19,  f.  11 
23,  f.14,15 
.     .    .      5 

.    10 


12, 
13, 


galbana, 
granum, . 
lapidaria, 
limosa,    . 
lustrica,  . 
lustrica,    . 
nicliniana, 
orbiculata, 
pallida,    . 
parva,  .    . 
porata,     . 
porata, 
sayana,    . 
tenuipes, 

Ampullaria  depressa, 
flagellata, 

Slobosa, o 
opetonensis,   ...      5 
?  intertexta, .     ...    11 

paludosa, 5 

rotundata,      ....      8 

rugosa, 11 

urceus 11 

Oyclostomacincinnatiensis,A.w.in.coiA.,l9 
Nerita  urceus,  .    .    .  AMPULLARIA,    11 

Paludina  angulata, 35 

bengalensis,     ....    24 

bimonilifera 35 

carinata, 26 

carinata, 8 

cincinnatiensis,    AMNIC.,      9 

coarctata, 36 

coosaensis, 36 


Paludina  cornea, 4 

cyclostomaformis,  .    .  38 

decisa, 4 

elongata  \\  Sw.,   ....  24 

fasciata,  Bowd.,    ...  24 

genicula, 15 

georgiana, 23 

grana,    ,    .     AMNICOLA,  17 

heterostropha,     ....  4 

incrassata 36 

integra, 10 

intertexta, 31 

lapidaria,    .    AMNICOLA,  18 

limosa,     .    .    AMNICOLA,  10 

limosa  (Val.),     ....  4 

lineata, 17 

lustrica,  AMNICOLA,  10, 12, 16 

magnifica, 33 

multilineata,      ....  24 

nickliniana, .  AMNICOLA,  21 

obtusa,     .    .  AMNICOLA,  24 

ponderosa 13 

porata,      .    AMNICOLA,  10, 13 

subcarinata,     ....  8 

subpurpurea,    ....  28 

transversa, 31 

yivipara 17 

Valvata  bicarinata,       .  "\    .    .    .  5 

carinata, 3 

humeralis, g 

pupoidea, lo 

simplex, 5 

sincera, 6 

transversa, 33 

troostiana, 35 

tricarinata s 

unicarinata, 6 


COERECTIONS. 

PHYSAD.E,  p.  8,  1.  9,  dele  more  highly. 
22, 1.  5.J.,  read  negroes. 
26, 1.  14.,  for  2  read  a,  and  for  3 
read  2. 

LIMNEA,  p.  4.  The  tentacles  are  very  sensi- 
tive, as  indicated  by  the  fact  that  if  a  drop  of 
ink  or  other  colored  acrid  fluid  be  placed  near 
them,  they  will  be  suddenly  withdrawn,  and 
the  course  of  the  animal  altered.  The  use  of 
a  colored  liquid  enables  one  to  know  the  mo- 
ment of  its  contact  with  the  tentacle. 

LIMNEA,  p.  33,  41,  49,  for  signature  K  read 
J  (5,  6,  7). 

PALUDINA,  p.  22, 1.  4,  6.J.,  read  urceus. 


CONTENTS. 


This  work  contains  the  eight  signatures  I,  J,  K,  L,  and  E,  F, 
G,  H,  each  set  of  four  restricted  to  one  of  the  two  great  groups 
of  air-breathing  and  water-breathing  genera.  These  may  be 
bound  separately,  although  the  book  is  intended  to  form  one 
volume.  The  indications  of  synonymy  on  the  covers  being 
founded  upon  short  descriptions,  and  the  title  on  the  numbers 
from  1  to  5,  as  published,  are  cancelled  as  temporary,  and  the 
matter  of  an  unpublished  specimen  number,  and  of  most  of  the 
covers,  is  superseded,  as  the  remainder  must  be  in  a  few  years. 
In  the  meantime,  those  who  wish  to  preserve  the  indications 
of  new  species  catalogued  below,  can  preserve  the  last  leaf  of 
the  covers  of  numbers  1,  2,  3,  4,  and  7. 

Title  of  1842.     Dedication.     Preface.     Signa- 
ture 1 1 — 5,  and  5  plates  of  PHYSA. 

No.  6,  January,  1843. 

Sig.  Jl— 7,  and  15  plates  of  LIMNEA.     (J5, 
6,  7,  are  marked  K5,  6,  7,  in  error.) 

No.  3,  pp.  1 — 16,  pi.  1 — 5,  July,  1841,  with  short  charac- 
ters on  the  cover,  of  Paludina  rufa,  Anculosa  fusca,  Ancy- 
lus  nuttalliij  A.  diaphanus,  Lim.  ferruginea,  Physa  integra, 


42  CONTENTS. 

Melania  varicosa  (Ward),    Bulimus   vermetus    (Ant.),  Mel. 
iuflata,  M.  curta,  Physa  concolor,  Anculosa  affinis. 

No.  4,  pp.  IT— 32,  pi.  6—10,  Jan.,  1842,  with  short  charac- 
ters on  the  cover,  of  Anculosa  crassa,  Melania  aequalis,  un- 
cialis,  symmetrica,  bellacrenata,  gracilisvelpulchella(Ant.), 
approxima,  intersita,  Limnea  vitrea,  Physa  globosa,  Amni- 
cola  attenuata,  pallida,  galbana,  sayana.  Pal.  carinata 
(Val.)  is  changed  to  multicarinata,  and  carinata  (Sw.)  to 
unicarinata. 

Sig.  Kl— 4,  and  4  plates  of  PLANORBIS. 

No.  7,  pp.  1 — 32,  pi.  1 — 4,  Jan.  1844,  including  Ancylus. 
The  cover  has  characters  of  Amnicola  tenuipes  (Couper), 
and  Melania  substricta. 

Sig.  LI — 2,  and  1  plate.     INDEX,  commenc- 
ing with  the  word  Acella. 


Title  of  1845. 

Sig.  El— 3,  and  1  plate  of  AMNICOLA. 

No.  8,  June,  1845,  including  Ampullaria  and  Valvata. 

Sig.  Fl— 5,  and  11  plates  of  PALUDINA. 

No.  1,  pp.  1 — 16,  pi.  1 — 5,  July,  1840,  with  characters  on 
the  cover  of  Anculosa  littorina,  Potamis  californica,  Cyclas 
elevata,  Clepsina  scabra,  Cercaria  hyalocauda. 

No.  2,  pp.  17 — 32,  pi.  6—10,  Jan.,  1841,  with  characters 
on  the  cover  of  Mel.  rufula,  costifera,  Physa  fontana,  oscu- 
lans,  Ancylus  parallelus,  and  Angitreuia  proposed  for  Me- 
lania armigera. 


CONTENTS.  43 

Sig.  Gl— 2,  and  2  plates  of  AMTULLARIA. 

Sig.  HI— 3,  and  1  plate  of  VALVATA. 
INDEX  to  Amnicola,  &c.  ERRATA. 
CONTENTS. 

FINIS. 


Opercles  subspiral:  inhabit  rapid 
streams:  oviparous. 


Peristome  continuous:  foot 
large,  oblong. 


f  the  Waterbreathing  Limniades. 

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CIRCULAR. 

It  is  intended  that  this  work  shall  embrace  all  our  species  hitherto  described 
by  American  and  European  authors;  and  as  the  geographical  distribution  is 
a  matter  of  great  importance,  and  one  which  has  not  been  sufficiently  noted, 
the  author  will  be  greatly  indebted  to  those  who  take  an  interest  in  this  sub- 
ject, if  they  will  forward  him  catalogues  of  the  species,  or  specimens  of  the 
univalve  shells  found  in  the  streams  with  which  they  may  be  acquainted. 

Descriptions  of  the  animals  and  their  habits  would  also  be  very  useful;  and 
for  any  assistance  given,  acknowledgements  will  be  made. 

The  soft  parts  or  "animal"  of  lo  SPIXOSA,  LEA,  or  a  description,  would  be  a 
desideratum. 

Communications  may  be  addressed  to  the  author,  at  Marietta  or  Columbia. 
Pennsylvania,  or  to  the  care  of  Mr.  DOBSON,  Philadelphia. 

CHARACTERS  OF  NEW  MOLLUSCS  AND  PARASITIC  ANIMALS. 


Anculosa  littorina. 

A.  testa  solida,  conica,  olivacea;  lineis  transversis  cincta:  anfractibus  qua- 
ternis  planulatis:  apice  erosa:  sutura  vix  excavata:  apertura  subrotundata, 
superne  angulata. 

HAB.    Holston  river,  Virginia.    Length,  ^  inch. 

Cerithium  (Potamis)  Californicum. 

Testa  solida,  turrita,  rufescente:  anfractibus  novenis  convexis;  costulis  lon- 
gitudinalibus;  lineis  transversis  costulas  decussantibus:  sutura  impressa:  aper- 
tura rhqmboidea,  purpurea;  labro  crasso. 

HAB.    California,  in  brackish  water. — Mr.  Nuttall.    Length,  1  inch. 

Cyclas  elevata. 

Shell  orbicular,  cardinal  tooth  prominent,  lamellar  tdeth  thick:  beaks  ele- 
vated.   Color  brownish-olive.    Length  0.55,  height  0.50  in. 
HAB.    Near  New  Orleans. 

Hirudo  (Clepsina)  scabra. 

Head  distinct,  pointed,  provided  with  a  sucker  and  two  eyes:  body  with 
about  four  longitudinal  rows  of  equidistant  points  or  spines;  a  large  posterior 
sucker.  Color  light  brown.  Length  |  in. 

Found  upon  Planorbis  bicarinatus. 

Cercaria  hyalocauda. 

Body  dark  brown  or  blackish,  about  as  long  as  the  tail:  tail  transparent, 
tapering,  and  suddenly  diminished  at  its  junction  with  the  body.  Just  visible 
to  the  naked  eye.  Parasitic  upon  Physa  heterostropha. 


Genus  Discus. 

I  propose  to  establish  a  genus  under  this  title,  for  the  reception  of  Planorbis 
armigerus,  Say.  Its  characters  are  the  same  as  in  Planorbis;  with  the  addi- 
tion of  the  teeth,  situated  within  the  aperture  of  the  shell. 


CORRECTIONS. 

PAGE. 

4.    After  the  references  to  Say's  works  add: 

HELIX  DissiMiLis,  Wood's  catalogue,  supplement  of  1828,  PI. 

vii.  fig.  18. 

Add  New  York,  Virginia,  and  North  Carolina,  to  the  locali- 
ties of  P.  decisa. 
8.    For  striata  read  striatis. 

8.  Strike  out  the  reference  P.  CARINATA,  &c.,  and  insert: 

HELIX  DECISA,  Wood's  catalogue  sup.,  pi.  vii.  fig.  17. 

9.  Add  Tennessee,  to  the  localities. 

12.    Last  line,  after  "5,  the  young,"  add  6,  the  very  young. 


Melania  rufula.  Shell  lengthened  conical,  composed  of  8  whirls. 
the  4  anterior  of  which  are  convex,  and  those  of  the  apex  flat: 
suture  well  marked:  spire  twice  the  length  of  the  aperture:  apex 
suddenly  tapered  to  a  point:  aperture  ovate  elliptic.  Length  1  inch. 
HAB.  Lake  Pepin.  OBS.  Distinguished  from  M.  simplex  by  having 
the  peritreme  level,  and  from  M.  virginica  by  the  flattened  apex.4 

Physa  fontana.  Animal  dark  fuliginous,  foot  as  long  as  the  shell: 
shell  ovate,  translucent,  composed  of  3  convex  turns^  apex  eroded: 
suture  well  marked:  labium  nearly  straight,  with  a  slight  fold: 
color  yellowish  brown.  Length  \  inch.  Inhabits  cold  springs  in 
Pennsylvania.  OBS.  Closely  resembles  P.  fontinalis  of  Europe,  but 
the  foot  is  shorter. 

Physa  osculans.  Shell  oval  or  lengthened,  translucent:  whirls  4 
or  5,  slightly  convex:  suture  well  marked:  aperture  narrow,  longer 
than  the  spire,  with  the  labium  expanded  far  upon  the  body  whirl: 
columella  thickened.  Length  i  to  4  inch.  HAB.  Middle,  Eastern 
and  Western  States.  OBS.  This  species'?  bears  an  equal  resem- 
blance to  P.  heterostropha  and  P.  gyrina. 

Ancylus  parallelus.  Shell  brown',  low,  much  appressed,  aperture 
oblong  oval,  apex  subcentral.  Length  .15  breadth  .10  in.  HAB. 
Vermont.  Prof.  Adams. 

Subgenus  Angitrema.  Shell  spinous,  aperture  subrhomboidal; 
with  an  anterior  sinus.  Ex.  Melania  armigera,  Say. 

Melania  costifera.  Shell  lengthened,  composed  of  8  slightly  con- 
vex turns,  having  numerous  spiral  elevated  lines,  crossing  a  series 
of  curved  ribs,  on  all  the  whirls:  spire  twice  the  length  of  the  aper- 
ture: suture  well  marked:  aperture  ovate.  Length  1  inch.  HAB. 
Illinois.  OBS.  The  aperture  is  wider  than  in  the  allied  species,  and 
the  costae  are  better  developed. 


CIRCULAR. 

It  is  intended  that  this  work  shall  embrace  all  our  species  hitherto  described 
by  American  and  European  authors;  and  as  the  geographical  distribution  is 
a  matter  of  great  importance,  and  one  which  has  not  been  sufficiently  noted, 
the  author  will  be  greatly  indebted  to  those  who  take  an  interest  in  this  sub- 
ject, if  they  will  forward  him  catalogues  of  the  species,  or  specimens  of  the 
univalve  shells  found  in  the  streams  with  which  they  may  be  acquainted. 

Descriptions  of  the  animals  and  their  habits  would  also  be  very  useful;  and 
for  any  assistance  given,  acknowledgements  will  be  made. 

The  soft  parts  or  "animal"  of  lo  SPINOSA,  LEA,  or  a  description,  would  be  a 
desideratum. 

Communications  may  be  addressed  to  the  author,  at  Marietta  or  Columbia, 
Pennsylvania,  or  to  the  care  of  Mr.  DOBSON,  Philadelphia. 


The  3d  and  4th  numbers  of  this  work  will  most  probably  be  devoted  to  the 
genus  Limnea,  and  will  contain  the  following  species.  Those  who  are  ac- 
quainted with  additional  localities,  will  confer  a  favour  by  forwarding  them 
to  the  author. 

No.  3.— Limnea  catascopium.  HAB.  The-North-west  Territory,  New"  York, 
Massachusetts,  the  Hudson  and  Delaware.  * 

L.  pinguis.    The  North-west  Territory  and  the  Delaware. 

L.  emarginata.     The  North-west  Territory  and  Maine. 

L.  megasoma.    The  North-west  Territory  and  Maine. 

L.  rugosa.    Mexico. 

L.  jugularis.  (StagnalisT)  Lewis'  river,  Oregon,  and  North-west  Ter- 
ritory. 

L.  appressa.  Superior,  Canandaigua,  and  Cayuga  Lakes;  Vermont,  Ohio, 
and  Indiana. 

No.  4.— Limnea  elodes.  HAB.  The  North-west  Territory,  Lake  Erie,  New 
York,  Eastern  Pennsylvania  and  Massachusetts. 

L.  umbrosa.  Council  Bluff;  Rainy  lake  and  Seine  river  of  Upper  Canada; 
New  England,  New  York,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois. 

L.  reflexa.  Superior  and  Erie  lakes;  Ohio,  Indiana?  Illinois,  New  York, 
and  New  England. 

L.  attenuata.    Near  the  city  of  Mexico. 

L.  expansa.    Vermont. 

L.  desidiosa.   New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio. 

L.  caperata.    Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  E.  Pennsylvania  and  Vermont. 


New  Species  of  Shells,  published  March  nth,  1841, 
by  S.  S.  HALDEMAN. 

Paludina  rufa.  I  propose  this  name  for  Paludina,  PI.  3,  fig.  1,  of 
this  work.  Fig.  4  of  the  same  plate  is  the  P.  integra  of  Say.  P. 
rufa  is  distinguished  by  the  reddish  color  and  entire  apex,  but  it 
may  be  a  variety  of  P.  decisa. 

Anculosa  fusca.  Shell  subglobular,  spire  more  than  half  the 
length  of  the  aperture,  with  the  apex  rounded:  whirls  3  to  4,  slight- 
ly convex:  suture  rendered  distinct  by  a  slight  shoulder  on  the 
whirls:  body  whirl  with  a  slight  tendency  to  obtuse  carination: 
aperture  globose-pyriform,  rendered  obtuse  posteriorly  by  the  slight 
shoulder  on  the  whirls:  labium  slightly  arcuated,  and  thick  in  sub- 
stance: labrum  thin  and  sharp.  Color:  outside  fuscous,  livid  when 
worn;  labium  white;  inside  with  a  tinge  of  pink.  Length  §  inch. 
HAB.  Oregon,  Mr.  Nuttall.  OBS.  Shell  not  slender  like  Anc. 
virens,  nor  is  the  aperture  round,  as  in  Anc.  Nuttaliaria. 

Ancylus  (Velletea)  Nuttattii.  Shell  fuscous,  oval,  elevated,  apex 
one-fourth  of  the  entire  length  from  one  end.  Length  i^-,  breadth 
|,  height  |  inch.  HAB.  Oregon,  Mr.  Nuttall. 

Ancylus  diaphanus.  Shell  translucent,  very  pale,  regularly  oval, 
very  wide,  depressed;  apex  subcentral.  Length  T3^-  inch.  HAB. 
Ohio,  Mr.  Anthony. 

Limnea  ferruginea.  Shell  slender,  thin,  conical,  and  diaphanous: 
whirls  4,  convex:  suture  deep:  aperture  oval,  about  as  long  as  the 
spire:  colurnella  arcuated,  with  a  distinct  fold.  \  inch  long.  HAE. 
Oregon,  Mr.  Nuttall.  OBS.  More  slender  than  L.  humilis. 

Pkysa  (Diaslrophii)  integra.  Shell  oval,  composed  of  5  very  con- 
vex whirls:  apex  pointed:  suture  very  deep:  aperture  oval,  wide 
posteriorly;  peritreme  continuous;  no  columellar  fold.  Color  pale, 
with  white  varicose  bands.  5  inch  long.  HAB.  Indiana,  Mrs.  Say. 
OBS.  Larger  than  P.  Diastropha  distorta.  Hal.,  and  not  distorted. 

Melania  varicosa,  Ward.  Shell  olivaceous,  conical,  with  7  convex 
whirls,  flattened  at  the  apex:  later  whirls  marked  with  thick  vari- 
cose lines:  aperture  elliptic.  Length  f  inch.  HAB.  Ohio.  OES. 
Allied  to,  but  less  slender  than  M.  exilis.  It  may  prove  to  be  a 
variety  of  M.  rufula,  Hal. 

"Bulimus  vermetus,  Anthony.  Shell  turriculated,  livid  brown: 
whirls5,  striated  longitudinally:  suture  deeply  indented:  apex  entire: 
body  whirl  a  little  more  than  equal  to  the  spire:  spire  2^  times  the 
length  of  the  aperture:  length  3,  width  \\  lines:  aperture  obliquely 
ovate:  length  of  the  aperture  equal  to  the  width  of  the  body  whirl. 
HAB.  Ohio  near  Cincinnati.  OBS.  Distinguished  by  its  peculiar 
mouth,  which  is  turned  in  a  regular  curve  from  right  to  left,  con- 
tracted at  the  upper  angle,  and  spreading  below:  the  whirls  are  also 
very  deeply  indented  and  twisted,  as  they  are  in  Succinea  vermeta." 
J.  G.  Anthony. 

Melania  injlata.  Shell  conical,  with  3  to  4  flat  turns:  apex  trun- 
cate-eroded: middle  of  the  body  whirl  slightly  carinated:  lines  of 
growth  undeviating:  aperture  as  long  as  the  spire,  very  narrow, 
elliptic,  slightly  produced,  and  turned  to  the  left  anteriorly.  Color 
brown  or  green,  inside  banded  with  reddish.  Length  \  inch.  HAB. 
Alabama,  R.,  Mr.  Conrad.  OBS.  Allied  to  M.  stygia. 

Melania  curta.  Shell  short,  conical,  smooth;  spire  plane,  nearly 
twice  as  long  as  the  aperture,  which  is  narrow  and  quadrate,  with  a 
narrow  anterior  sinus.  Color  green  or  chesnut.  Length  f  inch. 
HAB.  Ohio  river.  OBS.  Resembles  M.  conica,  Sayi,  but  the  whirls 
increase  more  rapidly  in  size. 

Physa  concolor.  Shell  oval,  spire  produced,  with  the  apex  point- 
ed: whirls  4,  convex:  aperture  oval,  narrow;  columellar  fold  dis- 
tinct. Color  honey-yellow.  Length  0.23  in.  HAB.  Oregon,  Mr. 
Nuttall. 

Anculosa.  {Mudalia)  qffinis.  I  propose  this  name  for  a  shell  allied 
to  "Paludina  dissimilis,"  Say;  but  which  differs  from  it  in  having 
a  slight  tooth  upon  the  columella.  HAB.  Ohio,  Mrs.  Say. 


CIRCULAR. 

It  is  intended  that  this  work  shall  embrace  all  our  species  hitherto  described 
by  American  and  European  authors;  and  as  the  geographical  distribution  is 
a  matter  of  great  importance,  and  one  which  has  not  been  sufficiently  noted, 
the  author  will  be  greatly  indebted  to  those  who  take  an  interest  in  this  sub- 
ject, if  they  will  forward  him  catalogues  of  the  species,  or  specimens  of  the 
univalve  shells  found  in  the  streams  with  which  they  may  be  acquainted. 

Descriptions  of  tne  animals  and  their  habits  would  also  be  very  useful;  and 
for  any  assistance  given,  acknowledgements  will  be  made. 

Communications  may  be  addressed  to  the  author,  at  Marietta  or  Columbia, 
Pennsylvania,  or  to  the  care  of  Mr.  DOBSON,  Philadelphia. 


No.  4.—Limnea  elodes.  HAB.  The  North-west  Territory,  Lake  Erie,  New 
York,  Eastern  Pennsylvania  and  Massachusetts. 

L.  umbrosa.  Council  Bluff;  Rainy  lake  and  Seine  river  of  Upper  Canada; 
New  England,  New  Fork,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois. 

L.  refiexa.  Superior  and  Erie  lakes;  Ohio,  Indiana?  Illinois,  New  York, 
and  New  England. 

L.  attenuata.    Near  the  city  of  Mexico. 

L.  expansa.    Vermont. 

L.  desidiosa.    New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio. 

L.  caperata.    Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  E.  Pennsylvania  and  Vermont. 


CORRECTIONS. 

Paludina  Bengalensis.    Add  to  the  synonyms 

P.  VITTJLA,  Raf.    Atlantic  Journal,  p.  165. 

No.  2,  p.  21,  line  11,  for  worst  read  worse. 

Paludina  subpurpurea.    In  some  copies  the  bands  are  too  highly  colored. 

Physa  osculans.  The  U.  S.  specimens  of  this  shell  will  merge  into  P. 
heterostropha.  One  specimen,  supposed  to  be  from  the  West,  is  in  reality  from 
Mexico.  This  appears  distinct,  and  may  retain  the  name,  until  I  learn  more 
about  it.  Although  the  aperture  is  narrow,  some  specimens  in  the  Academy's 
collection  have  it  very  wide. 


***  This  number  has  been  detained  by  extensive  alterations  in  the  plates, 
after  the  engraving  had  been  finished.  This  explanation  is  made  to  allay  the 
fears  of  those  subscribers  who  may  suppose  the  work  likely  to  be  discontinued: 
a  circumstance  of  which  there  is  no  apparent  probability. 


SUBSCRIBERS. 


DARIEN,  Gco. 


Couper,  Hamilton  J.,  Esq. 

PORTLAND,  Maine. 
Mighels,  J.  W.,  M.  D. 


Neal,  John,  Esq. 

BERLIN. 


MONMOUTH,  Maine. 


True,  N.  T. 

HAMBURG. 


PROVIDENCE. 


Rhodes,  Robert. 


Gates,  Elias. 


TROY,  N.  Y. 


FRANKFORT,  Ky. 


Fall,  Rev.  P.  S. 


Royal  Library. 


Perthes  &  Be^ser. 


New  Species  of  Shells ,  published  Octobers,  1841, 
by  S.  S.  HALDEMAN. 

Anculosa  crassa.  Shell  conical  or  globose,  ponderous  whirls  5, 
flat  or  slightly  convex:  spire  exserted:  aperture  ovate,  with  a  well 
marked  columellar  notch:  labium  thick.  Color  brown.  Length 
f  in.  HAB.  Clinch'?  R.  Tennessee.  Differs  from  A.  praerosa  by 
the  better  developed  spire  and  notch. 

Melania  ccqualis.  Shell  thick,  short,  conical;  with  5  flat  whirls, 
ornamented  with  longitudinal  ribs:  texture  thin,  surface  smooth, 
aperture  narrow  elliptic,  as  long  as  the  spire.  Color  brown.  £  in. 
long.  HAB.  Nolachucky  R.  Closely  resembles  the  young  of  lo 
spinosa,  and  differs  from  the  young  of  Melania  nupera  as  figured  by 
Say,  (Am.  Conch.,  pi.  3,)  by  the  want  of  the  concentric  elevated 
lines  on  the  anterior  slope.  This  figure,  as  I  am  informed  by  Mrs. 
Say,  does  not  represent  the  young  of  the  principle  figures,  (Litha.via 
nupera,)  but  another  species,  which  if  distinct,  will  retain  the  name 
M.  iiupera,  as  it  appears  to  be  a  true  Melania. 

Melania  uncialis.  Shell  pale  olivaceous,  turrited,  with  8  or  10 
slightly  convex  whirls,  the  earlier  ones  of  which  are  strongly  cari- 
nated: lines  of  growth  curved;  aperture  ovate,  with  a  sinus  ante- 
riorly. 1  inch  long.  HAB.  Beaver  creek,  N.  E.  Tennessee.  Bears 
a  general  resemblance  to  M.  Virginica.  As  far  as  I  can  judge  from 
the  description,  it  must  be  somewhat  like  M.  Warderiana,  Lea. 

Melania  symmetrica.  Shell  olivaceous,  turrited,  with  8  or  9  con- 
vex whirls,  separated  by  a  deep  suture:  apex  carinated  anterior  to 
the  middle  of  the  whirls,  aperture  ovate.  Length  f  in.  HAB. 
Roanoke  R.,  Va.  Less  ponderous  than  the  preceding  species,  and 
distinguished  from  M.  Virginica  by  the  carinated  apex. 

Melania  bellacrenata.  Shell  reddish,  subulate,  whirls  11,  marked 
with  a  strong  carina,  and  a  crenulated  line  posterior  to  it.  £  in. 
long.  HAB.  Alabama.  Differs  from  M.  bella,  Con.,  by  having  an 
oval  aperture. 

Limnea  vitrea.  Shell  ovate  or  conoid,  very  thin  in  texture,  sur- 
face smooth  and  shining,  translucent:  whirls  4,  convex.  \  in.  long. 
More  delicate  than  L.  desidiosa,  and  more  ventricose  than  L.  pal- 
lida. 

Published,  Dec.  28^,  1841. 

Amnicola  attenuala.  Shell  very  long  and  slender,  with  G  obliquely 
revolving,  very  convex  turns,  separated  by  a  deep  suture:  aperture 
small  and  ovate,  with  the  peritreme  level  and  continuous.  Length 
i  inch.  HAB.  A  spring  in  Montgomery  county,  Va.  OBS.  Very 
like,  but  more  slender  than  Cyclostoma  lapidaria,  which  I  refer  to 
this  genus,  as  well  as  C.  Cincinnatiensis,  Lea;  retaining  for  this 
species  Mr.  Anthony's  specific  name  Sayana. 

Amnicola pallida.  Shell  very  pale  ochraceous,  umbilicated,  about 
the  size  of  A.  lustrica:  aperture  oval,  with  the  labium  very  closely 
appressed  to  the  body  whirl,  so  as  to  render  the  junction  nearly 
invisible.  HAB.  Middlebury,  Vermont,  Prof.  Adams. 


Amnicola  galbana  has  the  same  characters  as  the  preceding 
species,  except  that  the  shell  is  chalky,  the  labium  thicker,  and  not 
quite  so  well  appressed,  and  the  spire  proportionally  longer.  Fossil 
in  the  tertiary  deposit  of  Sussex  county,  N.  J. 

Amnicola  Sayana,  Anthony.  Shell  conic,  more  lengthened  in 
proportion  than  the  preceding  species:  diaphanous,  umbilicated, 
aperture  suborbicular,  with  but  a  small  portion  of  the  labium  ap- 
pressed. Rather  smaller,  and  more  slender  than  A.  limosa. 

Melania  gracilis,  vel  pulckella,  Anthony.  Shell  conical,  with 
5 — 6  flat  whirls;  apex  truncated,  aperture  pyriform,  texture  light, 
color  greenish-brown,  with  one  or  two  light  revolving  bands.  HAB. 
Stark  county,  Ohio.  Size  of  M.  proxima,  to  which  it  bears  some 
resemblance. 

Melania  approxima.  Shell  lengthened,  conical,  tapering  gradual- 
ly to  the  truncated  apex,  upper  whirls  carinated,  aperture  ovate, 
tinted  with  pink;  color  light  brown,  with  two  dark  reddish  approxi- 
mate narrow  revolving  lines.  HAB.  Tennessee.  ^  inch  long. 

Melania,  intersita.  Shell  conic,  plicated,  with  4  convex  whirls; 
aperture  elliptical,  color  olivaceous.  Length  ^  inch.  HAB.  Swan 
creek,  Indiana,  Mrs.  Say.  Allied  to  M.  comma. 

Physa  globosa.  Shell  globose,  translucent,  spire  very  short  and 
rounded:  aperture  very  wide,  fold  well  marked:  whirls  three. 
Length  ±  in.  HAB.  Nolachucky  river. 

Amnicola  pallida.  Shell  with  the  form  and  size  of  A.  lustrica,  but 
with  a  less* distinct  suture;  umbilicated;  labium  very  closely  ap- 
pressed to  the  body  whirl.  HAB.  Middlebury,  Vermont,  Professor 
Adams. 

CORRECTIONS. 

Add  L.  sericatus  ?  Zeigler,  to  the  synonyms  of  L.  catascopium. 

Limnea  page  8,  for  fig.  9  read  fig.  11. 

For  Paludina  carinata,  Val.,  in  number  2,  read  P.  multicarinata, 
and  let  Swainion's  Paludina  carinata  become  P.  unicarinata,  until 
these  authors  can  determine  which  has  priority. 

Paludina,  p.  22,  note,  for  urcea  read  urceus. 

CIRCULAR. 

It  is  intended  that  this  work  shall  embrace  all  our  species  hitherto 
described  by  American  and  European  authors;  and  as  the  geographi- 
cal distribution  is  a  matter  of  great  importance,  and  one  which  has 
not  been  sufficiently  noted,  the  author  will  be  greatly  indebted  to 
those  who  take  an  interest  in  this  subjectj  if  they  will  forward  him 
catalogues  of  the  species,  or  specimens  of  the  univalve  shells  found 
in  the  streams  with  which  they  may  be  acquainted. 

Descriptions  of  the  animals  and  their  habits  would  also  be  very 
useful;  and  for  any  assistance  given,  acknowledgments  will  be 
made. 

Communications  may  be  addressed  to  the  author,  at  Marietta  or 
Columbia,  Pennsylvania,  or  to  the  care  of  Mr.  DOBSON,  Phila. 

***  No  copies  of  this  work  will  be  issued  with  uncoloured  plates, 
or  with  duplicate  plates,  coloured  and  uncoloured. 


SUBSCRIBERS. 


Miftiin,  S.  W.,  C.  E.,  Hybla, 
York  Co.,  Pa. 

Ward,  C.  J.,  M.  D.,   Roseoe, 
Ohio. 

PENDLETON,  la. 
Fussell,  Edwin,  M.  D. 

DARIEN,  Geo. 
Couper,  Hamilton  J.,  Esq. 

PORTLAND,  Maine. 
Mighels.  J.  W.,  M.  D. 
Neal,  John,  Esq. 

MONMOUTH,  Maine. 
True,  N.  T. 

PROVIDENCE. 
Rhodes,  Robert. 

TROY,  N.  Y. 
Gates,  Elias. 


FRANKFORT,  Ky. 
Fall,  Rev.  P.  S. 

BERLIN. 
Royal  Library. 

HAMBURG. 
Perthes  &  Besser. 

Hall,  James,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Thompson, ,  Esq.,  Liver- 
pool, Eng. 

Worcestershire   Natural   His- 
tory Society,  Eng. 

f 

Norris,    Thomas,   Esq.,  Bury, 
Lancashire,  Eng. 

Stranger,  Dr.,  Wisbeach/Eng. 


CIRCULAR. 

It  is  intended  that  this  work  shall  embrace  all  our  species  hitherto 
described  by  American  and  European  authors;  and  as  the  geographi- 
cal distribution  is  a  matter  of  great,  importance,  and  one  which  has 
not  been  sufficiently  noted,  the  author  will  be  greatly  indebted  to 
those  who  take  an  interest  in  this  subject,  if  they  will  forward  him 
catalogues  of  the  species,  or  specimens  of  the  univalve  shells  found 
in  the  streams  with  which  they  may  be  acquainted. 

Descriptions  of  the  animals  and  their  habits  would  also  be  very 
useful;  and  for  any  assistance  given,  acknowledgments  will  be 
made. 

Communications  may  be  addressed  to  the  author,  at  Marietta  or 
Columbia,  Pennsylvania,  or  to  the  care  of  Mr.  DOBSON,  Phila. 

***  No  copies  of  this  work  will  be  issued  with  uncoloured  plates, 
or  with  duplicate  plates,  coloured  and  uncoloured. 

This  number  completes  the  genus  Limnea.  Number  6  will  be 
devoted  to  the  genus  Physa. 

The  author  has  received  a  beautiful  drawing  of  a  living  Am- 
pullaria,  executed  and  presented  by  J.  H.  Couper,  Esq.  of  Georgia. 
He  has  also  drawings  from  life  of  Fusus  fluvialis,  (lo  spinosa,) 
Melania,  Anculosa,  Amnicola,  Valvata,  and  several  other  animals, 
so  that  there  is  every  probability  that  he  will  be  able  to  figure  an 
example  of  every  genus  described  in  this  work,  and  several  of  them 
for  the  first  time. 

The  colored  plates  of  No.  1  and  2  being  exhausted,  these  num- 
bers cannot  be  furnished  until  No.  6  appears. 


SUBSCRIBERS. 


Evans,  John,  Delaware  Co.,  Pa. 

Mifflin,  S.  W.,  C.  E..  Hybla, 
York  Co.,  Pa. 

Ward,   C.  J.,  M.  D.,  Roscoe, 
Ohio. 

PENDLETON,  la. 
Fussell,  Edwin,  M.  D. 

DARIEN,  Geo. 
Couper,  Hamilton  J.,  Esq. 

PORTLAND,  Maine. 
Mighels,  J.  W.,  M.  D. 
Neal,  John,  Esq. 

MONMOUTH,  Maine. 
True,  N.  T. 

PROVIDENCE. 
Rhodes,  Robert 


TROY,  N.  Y. 
Gates,  Elias 

FRANKFORT,  Ky. 
Fall,  Rev.  P.  S. 

BERLIN. 
Royal  Library. 

HAMBURG. 
Perthes  &  Besser. 

Hall,  James,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Thompson, ,  Esq.,  Liver- 
pool, Eng. 

Worcestershire    Natural    His- 
tory Society,  Eng. 

Norris,    Thomas,    Esq.,  Bury, 
Lancashire,  Eng. 

Stranger,  Dr.,  Wisbeach,  Eng. 


CIRCULAR. 

It  is  intended  that  this  work  shall  embrace  all  our  species  hitherto 
described  by  American  and  European  authors;  and  as  the  geographi- 
cal distribution  is  a  matter  of  great  importance,  and  one  which  has 
not  been  sufficiently  noted,  the  author  will  be  greatly  indebted  to 
those  who  take  an  interest  in  this  subject,  if  they  will  forward  him 
catalogues  of  the  species,  or  specimens  of  the  univalve  shells  found 
in  the  streams  with  which  they  may  be  acquainted. 

Descriptions  of  the  animals  and  their  habits  would  also  be  very 
useful;  and  for  any  assistance  given,  acknowledgments  will  be 
made. 

Communications  may  be  addressed  to  the  author,  at  Marietta  or 
Columbia,  Pennsylvania,  or  to  the  care  of  Mr.  DOBSON,  Phila. 

***  No  copies  of  this  work  will  be  issued  with  uncolored  plates, 
or  with  duplicate  plates,  colored  and  uncolored. 

This  number  completes  the  genus  Physa.  Number  7  will  be 
devoted  to  the  genus  Planorbis. 

The  author  has  received  a  beautiful  drawing  of  a  living  Am- 
pullaria,  executed  and  presented  by  J.  H.  Couper,  Esq.  of  Georgia. 
He  has  also  drawings  from  life  of  Fusus  fluvialis,  (lo  spinosa,) 
Melania,  Anculosa,  Amnicola,  Valvata,  and  several  other  animals, 
so  that  there  is  every  probability  that  he  will  be  able  to  figure  an 
example  of  every  genus  described  in  this  work,  and  several  of  them 
for  the  first  time. 


***  The  title  of  this  work  has  been  altered  because  the  principal 
term  is  pre-occupied  among  the  zoophytes;  and  on  account  of  the 
great  difficulty  of  getting  the  Mexican  species. 


;H&enfte  in  his  Synopsis  methodica  Molluscorum,  has  a  con- 
siderable number  of  "new"  American  species;  but  as  the  greater 
part  of  them  cannot  be  determined,  and  are  from  localities  pre- 
viously well  known,  and  containing  species  described  by  American 
authors,  (one  species  may  be  found  in  Lister  and  Gmelin,  and 
several  of  them  were  described  here  in  1817,)  I  have  not  thought  it 
necessary  to  cite  the  work.  Physa  striata  et  subarata,  are  probably 
P.  heterostropha:  Paludina  sulculosa  =  subcarinata,  Say:  Melania 
cruentata  =  Anculosa  praerosa,  Say:  Melania  curta  et  fasciata  = 
M.  virginica,  auct.:  Melania  livescens  is  probably  the  only  species 
to  which  he  is  entitled;  and  it  was  first  noticed  by  Say,  and  from 
the  imperfection  of  his  specimens,  referred  to  M.  virginica.  It  has 
been  recently  named  M.  Niagarensis  by  Mr.  Lea, 

Several  well  known  species  of  our  univalve  shells  have  lately 
been  characterized  as  new,  and  as  it  is  important  that  those  of  our 
distinguished  countryman  Say,  should  be  preserved  in  his  name,  I 
do  not  hesitate  to  publish  the  following  determinations  on  the  pre- 
sent occasion. 

Melania  Warderiana,  Lea,  =  M.  simplex,  Say. 
"        acuto-carinata,  Lea,  =  "        " 
"        Hildrethiana,  Lea,  =   "    obovata,  Say. 
"        globula,  Lea,  =  "   subglobosa,  Say. 

"        virgata,  Lea,  =  "  " 

"        Cincinnatiensis,  Lea,  =  Anc.  praerosa,  Say. 

Anculosa  dentata,  Lea,  =  A.  dentata,  Couthouy. 

Melania  catenaria,  Lea.    Name  preoc.  by  Say. 

Lyranea  fusiformis,  Lea.    Name  preoccupied. 

lo  tenebrosa,  Lea,  =  Fusus  fluviatilis,  Say. 

Melania  Kirtlandiana,  Lea,  =  M.  exilis,  mei. 

Paludina  angulata,x  Lea;  P.  Coosaensis,  Lea;  P.  bimonilifera, 
Lea;  and  P.  magnifica,  Conrad;  constitute  but  one  species. 


SUBSCRIBERS. 


Townsend,  John  K. 
Wagner,  Wm. 
Wistar,  Richard 

Adams,  Prof.  C.  B.,  Middlebury 
College,  Vt. 

Evans,  John,  Delaware  Co.,  Pa. 

Mifflin,  S.  W.,  C.  E.,  Hybla, 
York  Co.,  Pa. 

Ward,  C.  J.,  M.  D.,  Roscoe, 
Ohio. 

PENDLETON,  la. 
Fussell,  Edwin,  M.  D. 

DARIEN,  Geo. 
Couper,  Hamilton  J.,  Esq. 

PORTLAND,  Maine. 
Mighels,  J.  W.,  M.  D. 
Neal,  John,  Esq. 

MONMOUTH,  Maine. 
True,  N.  T. 


PROVIDENCE. 
Rhodes,  Robert 


Gates,  Elias 


TROY,  N.  Y. 


Fall,  Rev.  P.  S. 


FRANKFORT,  Ky. 


BERLIN. 
Royal  Library. 

HAMBURG. 
Perthes  &  Besser. 

Hall,  James,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Thompson, ,  Esq.,  Liver- 
pool, Eng. 

Worcestershire   Natural   His- 
tory Society,  Eng. 

Norris,    Thomas,   Esq.,  Bury, 
Lancashire,  Eng. 

Stranger,  Dr.,  Wisbeach,  Eng. 


***  No  copies  of  this  work  will  be  issued  with  uncolored  plates, 
or  with  duplicate  plates,  colored  and  uncolored. 

Communications  may  be  addressed  to  the  author,  at  Marietta  or 
Columbia,  Pennsylvania. 

No.  8  will  be  devoted  to  the  genera  Ampullaria  and  Amnicola. 

Nos.  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  completing  the  PHYSADJE,  may  now  be  bound  in 
a  volume,  in  the  order  indicated  by  the  signatures. 

On  pp.  33, 41,  49,  genus  Limnea,  read  signature  J,  instead  of  K. 

"Amnicola  tenuipes.  Shell  subumbilicated,  lips  continuous,  ob- 
long-ovate, thin,  smooth,  suture  slightly  impressed,  aperture  ovate, 
oblong,  angulated  above,  rounded  at  base,  1£  lines  long.  Hab. 
Hopeton,  Georgia." — J.  H.  Couper. 

Melania  substricta.  Brown,  lengthened  conical,  upper  whirls 
flattened,  with  numerous  folds;  body  whirl  slightly  convex,  suture 
impressed,  aperture  pyriform,  purple,  obtusely  rounded  before,  f 
inch.  1.  Hab.  Tennessee. — Mr.  Anthony.  Bears  some  resemblance 
to  M.  decora,  Lea.  I  formerly  proposed  the  name  substricta  for  M. 
conica,  Say,  supposing  the  name  to  have  been  previously  applied  to 
the  M.  conica,  Gray.  A  subsequent  examination  of  the  dates  has 
satisfied  me  that  Say's  name  has  priority,  so  that  Mr.  Gray's  species 
now  requires  a  new  name,  unless  the  citation  of  the  author  presents 
a  sufficient  distinction.  Melania  pilula,  Lea,  is  identical  with  An- 
culosa  littorina,  Hald. 


670 


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